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
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384 comments Add your comment
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 28th, 2011
11:07 pm
Tim: Yes you are wrong. Julio is a a REAL blue chipper and is every bit as good as A.J. This Georgia bias is just insane. Are you birthers too?
Yo Vince
April 28th, 2011
11:07 pm
So glad we didn’t get the Gaw Gaw flee bitten mut. We got a real BAMA player
Tim j Dong
April 28th, 2011
11:13 pm
‘a great offense will do wonders for our defense . . . just wait& see,’ I saw plenty last year. We had a great offense – we got out butts kicked all over the field when it counted in the playoffs on Defense. How does having a great offense in any way help our defense – Julio’s not exactly a ball control acquisition??
This is a terrible move.
Julio may be a great athlete, but so is Darius Heyward-Bay & we all see what a difference he’s made – to me this is the same kind of assinine pick.
Did anybody see, the Saints & the Bucs both went Defensive studs (the route we should’ve went).
Man we blew it this year.
JONESBORO SLIM
April 28th, 2011
11:16 pm
Roddy
Jones
Gonzo
Jenkins
Douglas
Meier
Turner
And a speedy RB
Tim j Dong
April 28th, 2011
11:17 pm
Other than your BAMA loyalties, there’s no basis or logical explanation for how in the world this could be anything but a disaster.
JULIO JONES = OVERHYPED & soon to b overpaid
DrJ
April 28th, 2011
11:19 pm
I think Julio is one that will prove to be a great pick. Counting all the picks we gave up, we have to remember he was our 1st round pick, so we gave up a 2 and 4. I would have preferred not to have given up our 1st in 2012, but that is what it took. I’m glad that he is big and physical, and has all the combine stats.
With some hardnose training, he will learn to concentrate and not have those drops. His size is a real advantage, and I’m glad we didn’t pick some light weight that isn’t going to be able to take the NFL thumping. Good Pick!
SeenThisB4
April 28th, 2011
11:21 pm
Saints definitely, without a doubt, outperformed the failcan’ts on the first round of this year’s NFL draft. Cameron Jordon, DE and Mark Ingram, RB.
Eat your hearts out failcan’ts fans! LOL!
Mystikal
April 28th, 2011
11:21 pm
Our trade was already very questionable, then the Saints had to go make us look like fools.
Millermoose
April 28th, 2011
11:23 pm
Only the future will tell if this was a smart move, but the Falcons need more help on the D-line than anywhere else. In a game where injuries are plentiful, I just hope those bodies we could have gotten from the draft picks don’t come back to haunt us. Good Luck Falcons…..
Tim j Dong
April 28th, 2011
11:23 pm
I can’t believe our worst rivals (The Saints) r putting on a clinic on how to use the draft & keep their team at the highest level,
while we make juvenile, Al Davis-like mistakes
Falcons Need to Move
April 28th, 2011
11:29 pm
This is the kind of move that sets a franchise back 5+ years. You TRADE for WRs….You don’t burn multiple draft picks over multiple years for ONE WR! Just NFL Draft 101 territory, not rocket science.
The Falcons just committed hari kari on the national stage, dooming us to 8 to 10 win seasons for several years. This uber trade miscue will be pointed to for YEARS as the reason why the Falcons fell from the top of the Div to the middle again.
What a MAJOR SCREW-UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boom Boom
April 28th, 2011
11:29 pm
How’s Kerry Meier leg doing??? I thought TD the clown said he was going to bulid this team through the draft??? This trade is going to haunt for us years….NEWS FLASH Mike Hampton was at the NFL Draft and reportly tripped Julio Jones. Jones broke his leg in six different places
roger
April 28th, 2011
11:31 pm
@john w.t.h two of the ugliest recievers football is not about looks get real dude they got two damn good recievers good trade td
Tim j Dong
April 28th, 2011
11:32 pm
Matt Millen,
WHAT R U DOING IN MR. BLANK’S office & what have you done w/ THOMAS DIMITROFF?!?!
Mystikal
April 28th, 2011
11:36 pm
THIS IS THE TYPE OF MOVE THAT WOULD SET A “”BAD”" TEAM BACK 5 YEARS. WE WILL BE OKAY!!!!!!!!!
?
April 28th, 2011
11:40 pm
Please………some of you fans are idiots. TD coulds s**t a gold egg and some of you would *itch because it wasn’t a gold brick. We all want an explosive offence and he is trying to build one. Let him do his job and let us root our team onto victory.
JONESBORO SLIM
April 28th, 2011
11:43 pm
The #1 pick we gave to Cleveland for next year will be #32 because SB champs always pick last…so it doesn’t mean JACK….”see you on the hill”
Mike W
April 28th, 2011
11:44 pm
haha people are funny,if he didnt make the move half yall would been saying why didnt we make a move in draft(SAME OLD BIRDS)try get jones or green,We didnt give up to much we are trying to go to a super bowl if yu want to win the big one you got to make the kind of moves to put yourself in position to. This was one of them,everybody not go like trade saying falcons gave up to much,people forgot this is a deep draft. I believe falcons will sign FAs on defense and draft a few.I like the move and TD plus you cant say a man who won Excutive of Year 2times doesnt no what he is doing,BIG PROPS TO DIRTY BIRDS Super Bowl Bound LETS GO FALCONS
Babs
April 28th, 2011
11:44 pm
I say we get really crazy and try to pick up Ryan Mallett next……..
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 28th, 2011
11:47 pm
Y’all have been having some fun in here.
Julio loves to block!!!
?
April 28th, 2011
11:49 pm
Ditto Mike W.
Tim j Dong
April 28th, 2011
11:49 pm
DOL – Is there anyway we could ‘block’ this trade?!
cwltank
April 28th, 2011
11:51 pm
1st rounders play, nopw Roddy can work the slot. For the record, I knew there was no chance the Falcons would select a end in the 1st. I prefered AJ but Jones is an up grade. Great job, I am danceing………
Tider58
April 28th, 2011
11:52 pm
Julio plays no matter what, he is a tough kid, he is going to bring it every down. Great move TD.
RB
April 28th, 2011
11:53 pm
I’m a Browns fan first and an Atlanta fan second. I’m happy for Cleveland and kinda sad for the Falcons. The Falcons gave up too much to move up.
432984
April 28th, 2011
11:59 pm
dimitrov’s been great, but this one seems like a big risk. maybe dimitrov wearing dreadlocks next (hopefully not in a wedding dress)…
O-my
April 29th, 2011
12:00 am
Damn great deal. All you non-believer will change your mind after you see the kid in action. Yes we wanted Green but Cinn wouldn’t make the deal so JJ will do just as good. bet on it. GO FALCONS!!!!!!!
chickenman
April 29th, 2011
12:04 am
ALOT TO GIVE UP IMO… but that said Julio is well worth it.. i told myself that if TD traded up and gave the draft away it better be for aj julio or peterson so this Birdfan is Happy… although seeing bowers fall is disappointing i say trade everything else to go get him tomm
davide
April 29th, 2011
12:05 am
Pls can someone explain… we gave up our 4th only for 2011 draft or also for 2012 draft?
Thanks a lot!
Ciao!
Real disappointed
April 29th, 2011
12:11 am
WTF I cannot believe this. MR cannot even throw a deep pass. Somebody needs to give Smitty and TD a drug test.
OB/DB
April 29th, 2011
12:14 am
WE couldn’t get AJ plus stop homing it DAWG fans this was a great move
Real disappointed
April 29th, 2011
12:16 am
Why is this great?
The defense needs help!
vpdikchainey
April 29th, 2011
12:34 am
Bold move for sure. At first glance looks like we gave up alot, but if you think in terms of the 2 mid-to-late first rounders being P. Jerry and S. Weatherspoon– Or S. Baker and M. Jenkins, then maybe not such a bad move after all. At least it shows TD is not sleeping well after the Green Bay game. My only concern is that Mularkey could turn Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders into busts so there’s real concern that he’ll use Julio primarily as an outside edge blocker for 376 more hand-offs to the Burner. Or my favorite Mularkey trick play when Ice throws a quick horizontal toss to the far WR for a nice 0.03 yard gainer.
nice
April 29th, 2011
12:35 am
Guys this is a verry good move trust me. the falcons are gonna get a stud D.E in free-agency. They already have two very good corners, all they need is a nickel corner. Falcons are probably going to pick in the late 20s hopfully 32 so they dont miss out on a lot. Its really easy to get a bust in the late first rounds and 2nd rounds. uve got to be aggressive sometimes, the falcons staff are not idiots they obviously thought about this move carefully before they did it.
Wunderlink
April 29th, 2011
12:36 am
I understand the 2nd & 4th this year, but next years 1st WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DR. FALCON
April 29th, 2011
12:37 am
I LOVE IT! WE NEEDED A PLAYMAKER OPPOSITE RODDY. THIS LEAGUE IS ABOUT SCORING AND SCORING QUICK! TEAMS WILL HAVE TO PREPARE FOR OUR OFFENSE NOW INSTEAD OF RUN, RUN, THEN THROW TO RODDY. DIMITROFF FOLLOWED UP ON HIS PROMISE TO BE MORE EXPLOSIVE! THANX TD!
Wunderlink
April 29th, 2011
12:40 am
If we still got Jenkins sorry azz under contrat we better trade him for some draft picks when FA starts for some insurance next season! Dammmmmitt TD !!!!!
DR. FALCON
April 29th, 2011
12:41 am
EVEN MIKE MULARKEY CAN’T SCREW THIS THING UP NOW! WE ONLY SCORED 21 PTS AGAINST THE PACKERS PEOPLE! DON’T FORGET THAT! YOU CAN’T COACH SPEED! JONES RAN A 4.38!!!!
Wunderlink
April 29th, 2011
12:47 am
Yeah Right this is the same idiot who passed up on Dez Bryant in last years draft & now he wants to play craps this year, WTF is TD smoking. Now I know Mike Smith is just a puppet in the process…TD has a chip on his shoulder for not winning a d*mn playoff game!
vpdikchainey
April 29th, 2011
1:02 am
Yo Wunderlik, I’m bettin that Julio doesn’t get arrested for “pants on the ground” violations at Lennox Square like Dez. Unlike Cowpies, Falcons draft for character in combination with athletic ability.
Joey the Bull
April 29th, 2011
1:05 am
Wow, I did not realize that there were so many people who know football better than Coach Smith, TD or Mr. B-I guess you guys should have called the Falcons front office and tell them who they need to draft since you obviously feel like you know more about football then they do. You idiots-trust me, you don’t know more about what the Falcons need, what they should have done or who they should have picked than the front office at Flowery Branch. This was the best pick of the draft for the Falcons. Julio would not have been there at 27 and for the Falcons to do what they did shows how much they know the game, know what they need and know who they should have picked. While I am sure you are all nice people, I am pretty confident that none of you could do a better job running the Falcons. So stop hating, get on board with the rest of the real fans and jump up and down with your hands in the air cuz baby the Falcons are for real. I am going to buy my number 8 jersey now.
Dre
April 29th, 2011
1:07 am
You guys have to think about the numbers Julio put up….keep in mind that he was injured during the majority of his college days…..and the most important thing that I think most people are overlooking is the fact that during his days at Alabama, they never had a quality QB that could deliver the ball to him. I’ve seen on too many occasions where Julio would be open in the secondary by 5 yards and the ball wasnt even thrown his way. If Bama would have had the same quality QB’s that UGA had… Julio’s numbers would have been outstanding. He was handicapped by John Parker Wilson and Greg McElroy. This is a great pickup for the Falcons.
WnE
April 29th, 2011
1:12 am
The Falcons need LINEMEN, both offensive & defensive and had they stayed at pick #27 they could have had Cam Heyward, Derek Sherrod, or Muhammad Wilkerson, or Akeem Ayers (DE/LB).
This was wayyyyy too much to draft a WR that figures to be a solid NFL Player, but no one is projecting Who-Lee-Oh Jones to be anohter Andre Johnson-type NFL WR.
I have agreed with all of Dimitroff’s prior drafts, but on this one he made a huge mistake.
The Falcons need to get more physical on both lines of scrimmage and giving up this many picks for a WR is not the way to get it done.
This Draft was deep for both Off. & Def. Linemen, all the Falcons had to do was stay put and let some talented guys fall into their lap, instead they got impatient and blew it.
WnE
April 29th, 2011
1:15 am
way too much to give up, instead of wayyy too much to draft…………
Najeh Davenpoop
April 29th, 2011
1:41 am
Julio Jones is a very good player. I think he’s a lot like Anquan Boldin. He is definitely going to improve the Falcons.
With that said, that is a LOT to give up for any single player, particularly a wide receiver. By making this trade, the Falcons are basically saying their “process” is close to completion and their window for winning a Super Bowl starts now. Because let’s face it, if they didn’t have confidence in the talent currently on the roster, they would have hung on to some more of those picks.
Jones will be a damn good player. Will the Falcons be a good enough team without the services of the players they could have taken with those picks? We’ll see.
saints win
April 29th, 2011
2:04 am
great move by falcons – falcons were my favorite team until the saints called atlanta’s 8 and raised them 22
saints win
April 29th, 2011
2:05 am
julio is a freakin beast winner – aj green is an also ran
virgil leonard
April 29th, 2011
2:11 am
OK people let’s calm down here. We got a bonafide threat opposite Roddy White. Let’s just understand that we have trusted our coaching staff and front office thus far. now ain’t the time for us to be jumping all over them about this. We did go 13-3 last year. the playoffs might have been disappointing but the regular season was spot on. Julio and Roddy are going to be very dangerous….patience
honest_abe
April 29th, 2011
2:22 am
anybody else smell arthur blank all over this move?
from someone who got trained on how to draft in new england this is not a new england draft tactic. great teams are built through the draft. quality depth. falcons have many more needs than alot of you guys know. the birds played the nfc west last year we dont’ have that luxury this year. bleh.. i’m sicking of whining about this awful move. but this is going to haunt this franchise for a while.j
arthur let td do his damn job!
A-Ville Ranger
April 29th, 2011
3:05 am
I hate this deal. Jones is far from being a sure star in The NFL. He runs poor routes. He takes his eyes off the ball and drops too many. He gets little separation and only caught a couple of deep tds his whole career at Bama. I wouldn’t have given 2 1st, a 3rd and 4th for AJ and he’s a MUCH better prospect.