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Jones, Falcons Agree To Contract Adjustment; WR Will Report To Camp
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Wide receiver Julio Jones will report to training camp with the rest of the Falcons after the two sides agreed on an “adjustment” to his current contract.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff announced late Wednesday night that Jones will be at team headquarters along with his teammates for the start of camp on Thursday.
“We have had continued dialogue all offseason with Julio and his representation," Dimitroff said in a statement. "We have come to an agreement with Julio, and we will re-address everything in 2019. I appreciate everyone’s hard work and communication on this.
“This adjustment does not impede us from working on other extensions with other key members of our football team. We will continue to work on those contracts going forward.”
The first practice of training camp will be held on Friday morning.
The five-time Pro Bowler signed a five-year, $71.25 million extension ($47 million guaranteed) in August 2015 and still has three years left on the deal. Jones was scheduled to make $10.5 million in base salary this season prior to the adjustment.
Jones was absent for the Falcons’ minicamp this summer, but his arrival at training camp means the offense has all hands-on deck to begin preparation for the 2018 season. It also offers the first opportunity to see Jones and first-round pick Calvin Ridley on the field together -- and to catch a glimpse of what type of impact that combination could have this fall.
In 2017, Jones led the Falcons with 88 catches for 1,444 yards and three touchdowns. He also became the first player in NFL history with three games of over 250 receiving yards, when he caught 12 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-20 win over the Buccaneers in Week 12 last season.
As Fantasy Pros' Andrew Swanson wrote: "Jones looks like a top-5 fantasy asset, he runs top-5 fantasy asset routes and plays in an offense that should feature him predominantly in the passing game."
Lack of touchdowns has been an issue, but Jones was heavily targeted in the red zone last season. Expect him to close the deal when those opportunities arise in 2018.