FanPost

Trade! Julio to the Titans!(?) Art Smith's revenge...


Julio Jones in two-tone blue would be a sight...hopefully, not reminiscent of another HOF in the Field-Goal Fisher/Coach Ocho era. There are four pieces that need to fall into place to make this happen. I'd have liked it if they could've traded Julio for Arthur Smith, but, alas, that ship has sailed.

1. Restructured Contract(s)

a. Taylor Lewan: I recognize he is coming off an ACL, but the Titans aren't going to cut him. Why not bring the guarantee forward on a three year $15 mil/yr deal ($20 guaranteed, $15 the first year). This would turn his $13.4 million cap number into what the Titans want. Let's just call it $2.4 million for cleanness creating $11 million in cap space.

b. Rodger Saffold: I personally would despise this as Saffold couldn't stay on the field last year. However, when healthy, he is a beast even at 33 years old and could be for years to come. However, if the Titans went in this direction, they could turn his $12.3 million cap number into another two year or extend it to a 3 year with a dummy year. For cleanness, let's call it turning the $12.3 into $5 million (2 year contract) freeing up $7.3 million.

c. Ben Jones: I like this idea more, but Jones is aging, maybe it is a 3 year $5 million/yr with ($7.5 guaranteed) and I'd really like it. This is my favorite of the three if the terms are the same. In the last year of his deal with $7.25 million cap number, this one really makes the most sense. Lower that number to $2.25 million and clear up $5 million in cap space to cushion the Jones cap blow.

d. Julio Jones: What?! He wouldn't restructure, correct? Well, players have done this before to facilitate a trade. Jones just over $23 million cap number with an annual of $22 million through 2023. This is a horrible contract for an aging receiver, but he is still playing at an elite level with, at times, questionable QB play still posting an 86+ pro football focus grade last year which is borderline elite. Jerry Rice was at the peak of his game from age 32-34. Look at his stats

age Receptions yards

32 112 1499

33 122 1848

34 108 1254

Now, admittedly, Jones is not Rice who was more finesse, less power. Jones has been hurt more and Rice missed all but two games in 1997 at age 35. Jones will be a 1a or 1b with AJ Brown needing/deserving big money in a couple of years making the $22 mil/yr fairly set in stone difficult to swallow. It is Jones' contract guarantees (currently $0.55 million) that get in the way of this deal getting done, but it doesn't seem so far-fetched.

2. Trade players

a. Rashaan Evans: This is a no-brainer. Evans clearly is not in the future plans (despite Drew Rosenhaus recent statement that the Titans were working out a long-term deal ;) and would give the Falcons an instant starter at a position of need at a cheap price.

b. Rodger Saffold: As above, I join the Titans in trading a good player a year early (although I thought Casey was done a year earlier than the Titans and the Titans were right on that one). Question is: who plays this spot? A switch from RG to LG for Davis? This is very tricky and even more risky for an above-average line, but better today to get three (really two given July is essentially a dead month) months to work it out. Not a huge fan of this idea, but if it gets Julio and allows for some cap relief, I love it.

c. Ben Jones: Seems much less likely given they just drafted a player in the 3rd round to play center, Jones is a Vrabel favorite. However, he could be on the block for the same reason as Saffold with the significant difference that he is ALWAYS on the field.

d. Jayon Brown: I'd hate this as well, but he is a pro-bowl talent on a cheap contract who immediately solves two problems for the Falcons simultaneously giving you a 3 down linebacker who frees up other players both in the secondary and on the D-Line to play single-minded football. Seems fair trade bait given the current situation. Question is, do the Titans trust David Long, Jr., Monty Rice, others. For the Falcons, a combo of Deion Jones and Jayon Brown in the middle is formidable.

3. Picks: I can't see the Titans parting with a 1st or 2nd round pick given the amount of money we are talking about taking on. However, a couple of years ago the Titans were rumored to be interested in trading a first round pick for a WR. Maybe they do trade a 1st or 2nd rounder depending on the money the Falcons are willing to swallow.

4. Coaches: The wild card for a deal getting done is how much Arthur Smith loves players Vrabel doesn't. Vrabel seems like the type to say, "This guy likes Arthur Smith. Let's let him go to Arthur Smith." Not is some insecure way, but just trying to get everyone behind him. There is probably a guy not on my list that applies here. Trouble for Vrabel is, he doesn't have the advantage of knowing Julio and how Julio will fit.

Prediction: Julio Jones plays for the Falcons this year and all this is talk, but if a deal gets done, I think it should involve the following complex set of actions

1. Restructure Lewan and Jones clearing $16 million from the cap.

2. Trading Saffold and Rashaan Evans clearing another $16 million from the cap. To make it clean, the Falcons take these two player's contracts in full and the Titans take the brunt of the Jones contract.

3. Titans trade a 6th round 2022 pick for a Falcons 7th round 2023 pick.

This is such a difficult trade to declare a winner because of the onerous Jones contract which is precisely why I don't think it will happen.