Falcons make trade for Alabama WR Julio Jones
Alabama's Julio Jones (8) makes a catch for a touchdown as Georgia's Bryan Evans defends during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff pulled off a major shocker, trading up into the first round to select wide receiver Julio Jones.
The Falcons reportedly sent their first, second and fourth round picks along with next seasons’ first round pick to move up 21 spots.
Here is Jones’ bio:
Julio Jones, Alabama, 6-3, 221: He is from Foley, Ala. He set school records with 194 catches, 3,287 yards and 43 touchdowns at Foley High. He was rated the No. 1 receiver in the nation by rivals.com and scout.com. He signed with Alabama over Florida State, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. As a freshman, he led the Crimson Tide with 58 catches. He also had 924 yards receiving and four touchdowns. In his sophomore season, Jones battled through a string of juniors. He rebounded to help the Crimson Tide win the BCS national championship as he caught 43 passes for 596 yards and four touchdowns. Last season, he caught 78 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. He was noted for his downfield blocking in the run game. Also, he did have some problems with the occasional dropped pass. Despite having a broken bone in his foot, he turned in a phenomenal workout at the scouting combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, had a broad jump of 11 feet, 3 inches and a vertical jump of 38 1/2 inches.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
384 comments Add your comment
powerglide
April 28th, 2011
9:31 pm
Duston is another band wagon fan that jsut watched the playoff game and yes it was a bad game, but if you look like a few post above yours I gave the defense stats from last year, so either you cant read or you jsut watched one game
T from D
April 28th, 2011
9:32 pm
powerglide, yea the d was pretty good against average to below average teams but did you see the playoff game? we lost that game becasue we couldn’t stop an elite offense. We need an explosive player on defense to rush the passer every bit as much (or more) than an explosive offensive player. The elite teams in the league do not give up that many picks for 1 player and that is why the pick has potential to be a huge mistake.
love it
April 28th, 2011
9:33 pm
great pick. i understand the defensive needs, but julio is a very underrated route runner – the fact that he didn’t have a quarterback who could hit him in stride kept his numbers down. HUGE blocker, too, and will tear up a 2nd corner in the league. naysayers are gonna eat some crow. RTR! and GO FALCONS!
Falcsfan40
April 28th, 2011
9:34 pm
All of you panning this pick just don’t get it. This is an EXTREMELY weak draft. There isn’t much in the way of impact players after the first 20 or so. We would not have gotten much sitting at 27. I agree that we paid a bit high with that many picks, but to add a receiver that gives us the best tandem in the NFL?? And don’t forget free agency is coming up AFTER the draft this year because of the lock out.
Slim
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
Everyone saying we gave up too much, are still thinking on a collegiate level. Julio is bigger and faster that AJ. Julio ran a 4.3 40 at the combine with a pulled hamstring. This kid has won a championship at every place he was at. He dropped passes, but delivered whenever it was needed. The Falcons now have the most prolific offense in the NFL. Defense will be addressed in free agency.
Asheville falcon fan
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
Why did we let Marty Hernie pick for us! If the falcons do not win this year , we just gave away the future. The way the packers ran over the defense and the way we could not stop the Saints in the last meeting, what will we do now?
You notice how the Falcons do not get to host a Monday Night game even though we were the #1 NFC seed. No one respects the Falcons and this just sets us back, if we cannot score 50 points a game. Too bad we will not have that First pick next year, ” I guarantee it, unfortunately.”
I hope I am wrong. However, I have been a fan for 40 years.
powerglide
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
t from d we beat greenbay earlier that sesason so your argument holds no water, it was a bad game thats it. Chris ownes had to feel in for brian williams and he got beat all over the place, but it was jstu a bad game, we have used to amny picks on d over the past 3 drafts, time for players to step up and they have, grimes, william moore, curtis lofton, we got dunta robinson, thomas decoud,
Unhappy Falcons fan
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
Even if they had moved up and got AJ Green who is superior to Julio I would have thought we gave up too much, but at least I would have been excited and happy. Instead I am bummed out and not just because I have no reason to watch the draft now until the third round.
Julio is way too drop prone to give up 4 picks over the next 2 drafts if in fact Atl didn’t have to give up even more. I can only hope that there are moves planned that will make this inane trade a lot less painful.
slim
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
This is a questionable pick i understand the explosion but the defensive line needs help please our linebackers cant cover worth shxt our pass defense was 22nd Green Bay did not punt they did not punt unless we gonna sign a DE n free agency iam not satisfied with the pick. We need a running back with speed defensive lineman and cover 2 type linebackers with speed Brian Van Gorder bend but dont break scheme garbage
Dumbo
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
Stick a fork in the GM….he’s done…….5 picks for a Dropper ain’t a good deal!!!!!!! Yikes, guess i can learn to be a Jets fan…at least only the Coach is out of his mind not the GM with them!
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
Best move ever. All the Georgia fruitcakes that are complaining because it is not A.J. Stop talking and go back to complaining about Richt.
bigdave
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle ..
smh.
McNasty…
no.. no.. i was only being spiteful.. see, the blogger who i was directing the comment to would always make comments about certain football players coming from the “ghetto” and being “thugs”. i would bring to her attention that a high % of ball players that she claims allegiance to come from less than ideal situations. however, that isnt indicative of their character.
wasnt taking a shot @ Cam.. i support him and wish him well.. i went to Mays high..
Stan in Philly
April 28th, 2011
9:35 pm
Wow, you never hit a home run unless you swing for the fences….I love Roddy but he is knocking on 30 so this was a great move…..Love that we finally have an aggressive GM!!!!!!!
falconfiend
April 28th, 2011
9:37 pm
Julio Jones is a play maker. Matt needed more recievers. Julio is a BEAST. I was jumping around like atl won the superbowl. Our GM and staff shook the whole draft up with that pick. Teams are picking guys out of the blue. Ponder to the vikings- really? ty smith to the cowboys- What a reach? Gabbert to jags- WHAT??????? Aldon Smith at # 7- you got be kidding me. Talk about those picks and give thanks to our scouts and coaches and GM AND OWNER
powerglide
April 28th, 2011
9:37 pm
All these nay sayers in here are sore UGA fans. sorry your team couldnt compete wiht the rest of the sec last year, dont blame it on julio GREAT PICK
Phillip
April 28th, 2011
9:38 pm
Any chance the Falcons get back into the last half of the first round to get a defensive player? Personally, I am glad they made the deal. They needed another play maker on offense, but I would have preferred AJ.
Greg Mendel
April 28th, 2011
9:39 pm
When you’re down 24 to 21 against the Steelers with a minute left in the game, do you want a good pass rusher or Julio Jones?
McNasty
April 28th, 2011
9:39 pm
I am so glad that TD is not governed by poular opInion , just like politics there are really some people that have a limited understanding of the complexites of the of the world and theNFL. But this is a free society so you can say any stupid superficial thing that you want and feel heard. THRU FALCONS FANS WILL LOVE THIS PICK!!!!!
Yo Vince
April 28th, 2011
9:40 pm
You guys are on crack. Julio and Roddy to cover. What team has 2 shut down corners. Matt Ryan wanted either A J or Julio. It’s a MONSTER pickEnter your comments here
dadgumitpaw
April 28th, 2011
9:41 pm
Some of you short bus riders who say “we’ll get the picks back with other trades of draft picks”………uhhhhh, about all we have left for 2011 and 2012 is 5th, 6th and 7th round picks. Oh yeah! We be gettin a LOT for them. Geeeezzz!!! Wait…..maybe we can trade our top four picks for 2013!! lol!
powerglide
April 28th, 2011
9:43 pm
dadgumitpaw, you obvisouly have never watched a draft or even kept up with a offseason in the nfl. If so then you are just a slow learner, please refrain from commenting in the future
M10
April 28th, 2011
9:43 pm
It’s called Free Agency people let them do there D### job,stop b#######.
woodie
April 28th, 2011
9:44 pm
Ken Herock recommended this move.
Hetch Hetchy
April 28th, 2011
9:45 pm
Remember Ditka trading all those NO picks to pick up reeferhead Ricky Williams?
LOL, that was funny.
McNasty
April 28th, 2011
9:46 pm
@BIG DAVE I finished from southwest, up the street. just be more accurate because some peple will use race as an unspoken issue.
falconforever
April 28th, 2011
9:46 pm
All you fans saying this was a bad move really don’t know what your talking about.This is the NFL not UGA so quit being mad because the falcons did’nr trade up for AJGreen julio is a better all round wide receiver.AJ won’t last he is to skinny,does’nt block well and the only reason you have to want him more then Julio is he was a dog and julio played for bama.Get over it people welcome to the NFL.Now they need a tight end,Defensive end and a cornerback and we will be right there where we want to be.Just chill and let coach smith and thomas D. take care of business.And quit playing aem chair QB people It won’t work they know better the we do.If we knew as much as they did we all would’nt be making working for a living we would be making the big bucks in the NFL.
Pete
April 28th, 2011
9:47 pm
Jones will be another Fitzgerald………………maybe better.
Green is not that calibre, sorry.
The Falcons got a pure Gold WR for years to come.
Congrats !!
T from D
April 28th, 2011
9:47 pm
powerglide, come on you’re a smart football fan surely you have to agree that we gave up a lot for 1 player. I agree Julio will make us a better offense but great teams are built with great depth. Our defense is getting better so if we can address a couple of holes on D in free agency maybe this works out real well but we can’t just say that the players we already have just need to step up and be better.
bigdave
April 28th, 2011
9:47 pm
Mc..
no doubt.
bigfish
April 28th, 2011
9:47 pm
if we play the way they should there giving up late picks !
AlwaysAVol
April 28th, 2011
9:49 pm
NOT Ricky Williams territory. We just got SMOKIN’! Now, we need to get some meat, I am still curious as to who takes Mallett. What a deal that young man is going to be… When the rest of this year’s QB’s have gone by the wayside, I predict he’ll be having a Favre type career. Minus the saggy ass cell phone pix…
Bad Brad
April 28th, 2011
9:50 pm
I wish some of you would learn to use spell check, grammar check before you hit ‘Enter’ with your third thumb. Nonetheless, good choice by the Falcons. Jones gives them another option a wideout, if not this year, then next as Jenkins has proven to be a ghost in games and Gonzalez will be retiring.
powerglide
April 28th, 2011
9:50 pm
T from D I promise you that TD has a plan in place to fill holes, they have had months to plan this. Let this play out and watch the lombardi come to atlanta
UGAJD
April 28th, 2011
9:51 pm
I would have felt better about the trade if AJ were involved, but that’s a lot to give up for any rookie. Young Julio will definitely feel the pressure.
AlwaysAVol
April 28th, 2011
9:51 pm
Falcons MVP… Thomas Dimitroff (?) Finally, Arthur Blank does some damn good hires, TD and Smith.
southside falconfan
April 28th, 2011
9:51 pm
td and blank both told us after the gb game that they were going to add explosiveness to our team. after green and peterson gone ,julio jones was the absolute playmaker left in this draft. it looks like this may signal the changing of the old stogey run-run-hope for a 9 yard completion we’re used too.
bank walker
April 28th, 2011
9:53 pm
You folks don’t have a clue, if you think this was a good deal. Julio wasn’t even the best receiver on bama’s squad, and to give up so much on top of that. Nicci please..
doodoobailey
April 28th, 2011
9:53 pm
dum dum dum dum dum……and thats not the pick, thats just the description of Julio. Move up a get the shutdown corner or the 10 year OT or your QB of the future….a injury prone WR? For everything in the future? Sometimes, I just dont get TD, besides Ryan, who else has panned out? Its always “another year for this guy to develop” for his late round flops and when he gets ballsy for a trade up, what do we get???
Sam Baker and a WR picked about 10 picks too high. Get some new glasses Mario Faghettitmitrov.
doodoobailey
April 28th, 2011
9:53 pm
dum dum dum dum dum……and thats not the pick, thats just the description of Julio. Move up a get the shutdown corner or the 10 year OT or your QB of the future….a injury prone WR? For everything in the future? Sometimes, I just dont get TD, besides Ryan, who else has panned out? Its always “another year for this guy to develop” for his late round flops and when he gets ballsy for a trade up, what do we get???
Sam Baker and a WR picked about 10 picks too high. Get some new glasses Mario Faghettitmitrov.
Falcsfan40
April 28th, 2011
9:54 pm
dadgumitpaw… learn something about offseason NFL before you post. You get whats called compensatory picks when other teams sign your free agents away. Also we have umm a 3rd 5th 6th and 3 7th rounders left this year. Not to mention free agency this year so…
doodoobailey
April 28th, 2011
9:55 pm
Dont worry though….we still have our 3rd round pick….in 2019
Loyal Falcon
April 28th, 2011
9:55 pm
I bet some of you nay sayers are the same ones that wanted the falcons to get rid of roddy white. He had the droppsies as well. You can be your azz roddy will pull him aside and explain how he got through that period in his career. GO FALCONS!!!!
T from D
April 28th, 2011
9:56 pm
powerglide, I like the sound of that and if we open the wallet and get some of those defensive holes filled I believe you are right. This move definitely will make us hard to stop. No more double teaming Roddy and it will help make him a more effective deep threat as well.
doodoobailey
April 28th, 2011
9:56 pm
I would rather have traded down for Dimitrov’s constant quest for the next 7th round Tom Brady. Trade your 7th rounders to move back into the 2nd or 3rd…otherwise, this draft is over for us. All in one player
Fishing the Hooch
April 28th, 2011
9:57 pm
You think the Dirty Birds can win the big game now? I think we’ll be dancing like Dan Reeves…
Jamel
April 28th, 2011
9:57 pm
I believe this instantly make the Falcons alot better. Offense one of best in NFL, Defense Coordinators will be sweating. Additionally our defense has holes, and those can be filled primarily through Free Agency or our developing players.
doodoobailey
April 28th, 2011
9:58 pm
doodoobailey has spoken….and he speaketh the truth.
Tim j Dong
April 28th, 2011
9:58 pm
Julio Jones sux ballz, he MIGHT beat out Jenkins or Finneran for #2 WR spot & there’s no comparison, I mean u can’t even put him in the same toilet stall as A.J. Green.
This is SOOOO disappointing! ARGHH!!!
This is a Raiders/Redskins like debacle, that WILL set us back. If you’re going to do this u have have to get Green. This trade & the mgmt.’s handling of this draft is absurd & unacceptable.
Is somebody moonlighting w/ the Browns on the side? They made out like the Cowboys in the Hershel/Vikings trade. Man I WAS so excited about this team this year too. A DT in the 20’s (staying put), would’ve made a lot more sense
Fishing the Hooch
April 28th, 2011
9:59 pm
i believe finneran got let go
doodoobailey
April 28th, 2011
10:00 pm
Who are these magical FA on defense everyone keeps speaking of? Washed up players from another team or high price premaddonas like Haynesworth? TD whiffed twice on that corner we traded to Oakland….b/c he is magical and can get someone just as good in the 7th round. DUMMMMMM