The Green Bay Packers have $17M in cap space. In these presumably final years of the Aaron Rodgers era, the franchise is going to try and chase that Vince Lombardi Trophy just like they have been doing each of the previous three seasons. After the losses of franchise legend Davante Adams and speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the team was forced to address the receiver position this offseason. Green Bay added veteran Sammy Watkins and three rookie receivers, including second-rounder Christian Watson out of North Dakota State. But teams can never have enough quality pass-catchers in the NFL nowadays. Julio Jones is still sitting out there as a free agent. Reuniting with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur makes perfect sense for the future Hall of Famer.
LaFleur, who was the QB coach, and Jones were together in Atlanta for two seasons (2015-2016). In those two seasons, it’s not a coincidence that Jones was given two First-Team All-Pro nods (the only two of his historic career). Jones would lead the league in receptions and receiving yards in 2015. By the way, then-Falcons QB Matt Ryan would win MVP as the team would make a Super Bowl appearance in 2016. So, it’s really not a surprise that QB Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur have meshed super well together.
Although Jones is now 33 and coming off an injury-riddled season in Tennessee, his average yards per reception mark came in at 14.0. That is very impressive for an offense that had A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry. Its not a surprise how he finds a way to be productive even during a down year. Remember, the Alabama native has seven 1,000-yard seasons in his career.
All the seven-time Pro Bowler is missing to cap off one of the great receiving careers in NFL history is a Super Bowl. Linking up with his old offensive coach in LaFleur and catching passes from another future, first-ballot Hall of Famer in Rodgers would be very neat. No. 12 would trust the former Crimson Tide star almost immediately. Jones would provide Green Bay with size (6-3) and solid athleticism. He would fit right in with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins and the team’s talented rookies. In these last few seasons with arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time, the Packers will want experience, leadership and production. Julio Jones would give them all of that. A one-year deal has no risk at all.
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