The market is officially set for top wide receivers in the NFL. Both Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas inked their long-term deals right as the deadline for franchise tagged players approached which placed the bar for Julio Jones and AJ Green. The Atlanta Falcons had yet to begin negotiations with their top receiver as he enters the final year of his contract, but with the deals to Thomas and Bryant getting done, how quickly will the team get Jones signed?
According to ESPN's Vaughn McClure, the Falcons and Jones were not talking contracts since there is no deadline for them to meet like with the Cowboys and Broncos. However, with both players signed, Atlanta now knows what numbers to place in front of Jones and a deal could get done before training camp. Traditionally, the Falcons have inked players the day before camp officially begins. Both Matt Ryan and Roddy White signed the day before training camp and Jones could follow.
The question is what number to place on Jones. Bryant signed a deal of five years and $70 million with $45 million in guaranteed money. Thomas inked a deal that was also worth five years and $70 million with $43.5 million in guaranteed money. It is unclear if Jones will accept the same kind of deal or if he will shoot for a contract like Calvin Johnson's that pays him $16 million per season. McClure reports that Jones will likely not surpass that and become the highest-paid receiver in the league, but whether he gets more than Bryant is unknown.
Jones is scheduled to make $10.176 million in the final year of his rookie contract. There is no rush to get negotiations moving on the contract, but the Falcons and the receiver would likely want to remove the distraction. Jones has already made it clear that he will not be holding out for a deal and plans to report to training camp immediately just like he did with OTAs and mini-camp. That gives the Falcons some flexibility with the ordeal.
In terms of stats, Jones deserves to at least entertain the idea of earning more than Bryant and Thomas. He topped all receivers like year with catches of 20-yards or more. He also set a franchise record in receiving yards while missing one game. McClure writes that Jones' agent, Jimmy Sexton, will try and squeeze as much money out of the Falcons as possible. He is the same agent that got Ndamukong Suh a six-year, $114.375 million deal with $59.955 million in guaranteed money. He will shoot for a contract like Johnson's with the idea of landing somewhere in the middle.
The only question left for Jones is how injuries will impact the talks especially when it comes to guaranteed money. The wide receiver has had health issues, most recently dealing with a fractured foot that caused him to miss the majority of the 2013 season. General manager Thomas Dimitroff denies that is a concern moving forward with contract talks.
