Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images. Pictured: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons
Odds to be team Julio Jones takes first snap with in 2021
Odds via DraftKings as of Monday morning
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Falcons | +300 |
| Patriots | +450 |
| Titans | +500 |
| Chargers | +550 |
| Colts | +600 |
| Ravens | +700 |
| 49ers | +700 |
| Packers | +1100 |
| Cardinals | +1400 |
| Jaguars | +1400 |
| Washington | +1400 |
| Cowboys | +1600 |
| Browns | +2000 |
| Chiefs | +2500 |
| Saints | +2500 |
| Bills | +3300 |
| Rams | +3300 |
| Dolphins | +3300 |
| Jets | +3300 |
| Rams | +3300 |
| Seahawks | +4000 |
| Buccaneers | +4000 |
| Bears | +5000 |
| Lions | +5000 |
| Giants | +5000 |
| Steelers | +5000 |
| Panthers | +6600 |
| Bengals | +6600 |
| Broncos | +6600 |
| Texans | +6600 |
| Vikings | +6600 |
| Eagles | +6600 |
Julio Jones just dropped a bombshell about his future on national television.
Jones told Shannon Sharpe on Monday on FS1’s Undisputed with Skip Bayless that the 2011 first rounder is “out” of Atlanta.
“Oh man, no, I’m out of there, man,” the two-time first-team All-Pro receiver said.
Sharpe followed up by asking where Jones would “ideally” like to go.
“Right now, I wanna win,” he replied.
The Falcons remain the betting favorites to be the team for which Jones takes his first snap of the 2021-2022 season at +300 odds (25% implied probability), according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Those odds moved from +150 (40%) in a matter of minutes.
Jones’ salary implications make it less likely — but not impossible — he will be dealt to another team. The 32-year-old inked a three-year, $66 million extension in September of 2019, making him the highest paid wide receiver in the league at the time. He carries a $23.05 million cap hit and a whopping $40.55 million dead cap hit in 2021; those values drop significantly in 2022 to $19.26 million and $17.5 million, per Spotrac.
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If Jones were to leave Atlanta, the Falcons would still be stacked with offensive weapons including receivers Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage and 2021 first-round tight end Kyle Pitts.
The Patriots have the second-shortest odds to land Jones at +450 (18.18%). New England finished third in the AFC East in 2020 with a 7-9 record behind the Bills and Dolphins. They have made numerous offseason moves which could make them more competitive this season, including re-signing quarterback Cam Newton, adding high-profile free agents Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor and drafting Alabama’s Mac Jones in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Patriots still lack a true No. 1 weapon, even with the flurry of transactions made by head coach and de facto general manager Bill Belichick, and Jones could certainly fill that role in New England. They also have $20.23 million in cap space — ninth-most in the NFL — which makes Jones’ burdensome 2021 salary of $15.3 million feasible.
The Titans have the third-shortest odds at +500 (16.67%), making a quick jump from +800. Tennessee was extremely competitive in 2020 and finished 11-5 atop the AFC South. They were defeated in the AFC Conference Championship Game by the Chiefs and may be looking to add receiver depth after the departure of Corey Davis during free agency. The team has just $3.63 million in cap space, however — 25th-most in the NFL — which makes the deal significantly less financially feasible.
The Chargers come in with the fourth-shortest odds at +550 (15.38%). Los Angeles finished 7-9 last season behind the Raiders and Chiefs. They have made a number of offseason improvements and have promising QB Justin Herbert, who was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, at the helm. The Chargers have $20.43 million in cap space in 2021 — eighth-most in the NFL.
The Colts and have the fifth-shortest odds at +600 (14.29%). Indianapolis finished with a strong 11-5 record in 2020 and advanced to the wild-card round where they were stymied by the Bills. They currently have $22.71 million in cap space — fifth-most in the NFL.
Next are the Ravens and 49ers at +700 odds (12.5%); the Packers at +1100 (8.33%); the Cardinals, Washington Football Team and Jaguars at +1400 (6.67%); and the Cowboys at +1600 (5.88%). The Cardinals opened at +2500, while Washington was as long as +3300.
In spite of already having significant depth at receiver, Dallas had been rumored as a potential destination for Jones after the star wideout was spotted wearing a Cowboys shirt. Sharpe specifically probed Jones about it, which he seemingly shot down presumably due to competitiveness.
