Getty Julio Jones, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Adding a seven-time Pro Bowler who has routinely killed the Philadelphia Eagles would be the best move of a near-perfect offseason. Heck, it might get general manager Howie Roseman a lifetime contract. Imagine Julio Jones in a midnight green jersey, leaping high over linebackers and nickel cornerbacks, as the team’s starting slot receiver in 2023.
In an opinion piece about wishful free agent signings the Eagles could make heading into summer, Cory Woodroof of USA Today’s For the Win website suggested the Eagles make a vanity move by signing Jones, a likely future Hall of Famer.
“While the Eagles have a very good receiver room as it is, adding Jones is the kind of luxury move a team like this makes to further elevate its Super Bowl potential,” Woodroof wrote in his story published May 23.
Jones, 34, remains unsigned after appearing in 10 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. At this point, Woodroof suggested, Jones’ options include retirement or latching on with a contender in his quest for the Super Bowl ring he has yet to win. Injuries have slowed him, and he has 21 missed games since his last 1,000-yard season in 2019.
“Jones’ health has been a point of concern in recent seasons, but Philadelphia is deep enough at the position to give the former Atlanta Falcons star the limited snaps he’d need to really make an impact and stay as healthy as possible,” Woodroof wrote.
Just thinking about that time the Eagles blitzed on 4th down and Julio Jones took it to the HOUSE 😤
🎥: @NFL
In 2021, Jones was a teammate of current Eagles starter A.J. Brown on the Tennessee Titans, and the two players share respect for each other despite their short time together in Tennessee.
Looking for Encore After Record-Breaking Year
A.J. Brown was everything all at once for the Eagles during his debut season in South Philly. He came out of the gates on fire — 10 catches for 155 yards — and scorched every blade of grass on his way to a franchise-record 1,496 receiving yards in 2023. It was nothing short of remarkable for a player who drew immediate comparisons to Terrell Owens. Now, Brown is eager for an encore — only this time he wants a better ending.
“You can always be better,” Brown told reporters, via Dave Spadaro. “Being a well-rounded receiver, that’s something I can always work on. The sky is the limit. I have goals and I know it takes a lot of work to achieve those goals. We’re working one day at a time. That’s where we are right now.”
“At some point you gotta get off the mat and keep on working.” — A.J. Brown on getting over the Super Bowl loss
Darius Slay Lobbied for Jones in 2021
Count Darius Slay among those interested in signing Jones to a one-year deal. The Pro Bowl cornerback lobbied hard for the future Hall of Famer back in 2021 when rumors surfaced he wanted a trade out of Atlanta. Jones ended up in Tennessee, but the Eagles were thought to be in the mix to make a move for him. He has long been a cheerleader for Jones dating back to Slay’s Detroit days.
“Very, very talented, man,” Slay said of Jones in 2017, via the Detroit Free Press. “One of the best. He can take something from 10 yards to 60, quick. You got to know his awareness, you got to know where he’s at and just contain him.”