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The Titans Are Now the Rumored Front Runners for Julio Jones, Possibly Trading a Second Round Pick

Pro Football Talk — Three days away from the official opening of the Julio Jones trade window, there continues to be no clear and obvious destination for one of the best receivers in the NFL.

In league circles, the current expectation is that, eventually, the Falcons will send Jones to the Titans for a second-round pick.

June 1 can't come fast enough. Just end this whole ordeal and trade Julio wherever, honestly.

Obviously Atlanta's goal throughout this whole thing has been to get a first round pick, but a second ain't too bad, either. I talked to a source within one of the teams bidding for Jones last week who said he would be "surprised" if the Falcons got as much as a second rounder back.

There was a report from ESPN last week that Atlanta had received an offer including a first round pick, but PFT reports that offer was likely for more than just Jones, and even as much as Atlanta's second round pick as well.

The widespread belief that the Titans will get Jones for a second-round pick further undercuts the ESPN report that the Falcons have a 2022 first-round pick on the table for Jones. It’s possible, however, that the ESPN report was incomplete. As one source with knowledge of the dynamics explained it last night, there’s a very good chance that someone has put a 2022 first-round pick on the table in exchange for Jones plus more — possibly as much as a 2022 second-round pick.

Given that the Falcons likely will be selecting high in round two next year, a 2022 first-round pick for Julio and the Falcons’ 2022 second-round pick represents a lesser deal than the second-round pick that they may have to eventually accept.

So if we get through this whole mess and can get a second rounder for nothing more than Jones — and Tennessee taking on all or most of his contract — then take that and run. I will gladly accept one of the forst 64 picks in next year's NFL Draft, if only to not have to hear Julio go on any more morning debate shows.

This is still gonna hurt like a bitch when it happens, though. I'm glad we've all been given some time to process it and accept it, but I never really imagined the Falcons trading one of the best players they've had in my lifetime while he still has some elite production left. But them's the breaks.