Could the Ravens be interested in adding Julio Jones to their depleted wide receiving corps?
There are a lot of factors against such a deal happening with any team. But if the Atlanta Falcons decide to move on from Jones this season, at least one sports book’s oddsmakers think the Ravens are clear favorites.
According to one book, the Ravens’ odds as Jones’ next destination are +250. That leads all NFL teams, ahead of Las Vegas (+300), Tennessee (+500), New England (+700), Philadelphia (+900) and Indianapolis (+1000).
It would require a serious haul to bring the All-Pro wideout to Baltimore, but Jones could help unlock the Ravens’ passing game and allow Lamar Jackson to take the next step in his development as a quarterback.
It’s easy enough for fans to imagine what Jones would look like in purple and black, but it won’t be easy to acquire him. Not only would the Falcons ask for a major return to jettison their former top-10 pick, but the Ravens would also have to get creative to fit Jones under their salary cap.
Furthermore, the Falcons are incentivized financially to wait until June 1 to trade Jones, if they are even willing to part with him at all.
Any team could use Jones in their offense if they can make the compensation and money work. He is a true number one outside receiver who has made seven Pro Bowls and leads the NFL all-time in yards per game.
Jones will play the 2021 season at 32-years old, but when healthy he still has an argument as one of the best receivers in football. He could potentially do for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore what Stefon Diggs did for Josh Allen in Buffalo.
It’s probably way too early for Ravens fans to get their hopes up, but it’s still interesting to see the historically conservative Ravens listed as favorites to make a blockbuster splash at a position fans in Baltimore annually hope to see solved.
