You make the call (after the fact): Was Julio Jones worth it?
If they had it to do again ... (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
The final bill for Julio Jones is about to come due, and already the Falcons have paid a heavy cost. Not only did they send five draft picks — last year’s Round 1 (27th overall), Round 2 (59th overall) and Round 4 (124th overall) selections, plus this year’s Round 1 (22nd overall) and Round 4 (118th overall) — to Cleveland for the right to move up and grab one wide receiver, but they have been pilloried in every corner for their flight of fancy.
(Well, not every corner. I still think it was a reasoned move to take a specific player of vast potential, but I’ll get into that soon.)
After the Falcons lost to the Giants 24-2 on a day in the Meadowlands when the offense didn’t scratch, Kerry J. Byrne of Cold Hard Football Facts laid the defeat at the feet of the Julio trade. (Not entirely sure how three rookies — only one of them who’d have been even a first-rounder, and that one only the 27th pick — would have overridden a 22-point deficit, but never mind.) Here was Byrne, writing for SI.com:
If you’re new to the Mighty CHFF, this Man Law tells us that wide receivers are nothing more than Shiny Hood Ornaments decorating the engine of NFL teams. They look all nice and flashy and they cause fans to “ooh” and “ahh.” But they don’t make the engine run any better.
And a bit more:
We knew it was a bad move the moment it happened, especially for a team that went 13-3 the year before but failed to win a single playoff game because of problems that were exposed so badly by the Packers. In fact, we issued Atlanta a D- in our Sports Illustrated draft grades. So we’re not engaging in a little revisionist history. The Shiny Hood Ornament Man Law told us it was an impending disaster the second the deal unfolded.
It’s not as if Byrne was the Lone Ranger on this. Raging consensus holds that the Falcons messed up last year’s draft and also this one, and it’s true Round 1 of 2012 — to be held next Thursday — doesn’t hold the same interest for us around here. When your NFL franchise lacks a first-round pick, all those mock drafts lose their shine. (They have the 55th overall pick, and then the 84th, and then not another until Round 5.)
Loading ...But I’m wondering. We in these parts saw a lot of Julio Jones when he played for Alabama, and we had a good long look at him last season (when he wasn’t hurt). Having seen the talent, if not yet any transforming effect on the Falcons as a team, would have you made the move? Or would you have stayed at No. 27 overall last season, kept this year’s Round 1 pick and taken no risk at all?
I’ll hang up and wait for your answers. (Oh, and there’s a poll, if you’re inclined.) I’m intrigued as to what you might say because, as noted, I’m planning a longer look at the Julio trade in a bit. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
Here, as threatened, is my take on the whole Julio Jones issue: I thought it was a good move then and think so now.
By Mark Bradley
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372 comments Add your comment
JB
April 19th, 2012
10:37 am
The Falcons are a dream for the NFL league office. Competitive, but not great. Just an alright middle of the road team who will win enough to sell out on Sunday’s.Parity at it’s best.
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:37 am
@Kerryb.
You mean we paid for tickets to see a team with crummy coaches hold us back year after year.
If that is so, maybe Mike should go for hiring them.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:38 am
GTBob
April 19th, 2012
10:34 am
No, he was not worth it. He is a great player, but we didn’t really need him that much and I was always skeptical that his addition would turn Matt Ryan into Aaron Rodgers all of the sudden.
___________________________________________________________
It has been proven in the past on the UGA blogs that you know little about football. Yes we did need him. We needed him because we needed to free up Roddy White from the double team and have another one just as good as him or better on the other side. He now has a year under his belt. Watch what happens next year.
Just saying..
April 19th, 2012
10:39 am
There are so many misses in the first two rounds ( JJ Not being one of them…yet), that I continue to salute the NE model of stockpiling enough picks to make up for the misses.
That said, as a loooog suffering ATL sports fan, we’ve had so many timid GMs in Every franchise here, that the boldness and courage of that move makes all the difference for me. TD gets a least 3+ years of “let’s see” from me, just for having stones.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:40 am
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:37 am
@Kerryb.
You mean we paid for tickets to see a team with crummy coaches hold us back year after year.
If that is so, maybe Mike should go for hiring them.
________________________________________________________________
It was only four seasons and at least he decided to make the change.
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:40 am
The Falcons plan is similar to the Dan Fouts Chargers as I keep saying.
It is great fun to watch against sub par defenses.
But we are not even that because I don;t recall Fouts being shut down the way the Giants hels us to 2 points.
They got out scored but not shutdown.
#10Fan4Life
April 19th, 2012
10:40 am
17.8 Yards per catch is not to shabby! Roll Tide Roll……….
meat and three
April 19th, 2012
10:41 am
The Brown’s will just screw up the pick anyways, so I’d say we did ok.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:42 am
There are not many misses in the top 10 picks of a draft. There are many misses (Peria Jerry) in the bottom of the first round where the Falcons were picking last year and where they would have picked this year.
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
April 19th, 2012
10:42 am
I like Julio, but I don’t think he was worth what we had to give up for him.
Matt
April 19th, 2012
10:43 am
No player is worth five picks. This team has more holes in it than a spaghetti strainer.
Canonball- haha!!
TB
April 19th, 2012
10:44 am
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons a agree about TD he is not a good judge on talent and he his degree in art in Canada, What does he know about football and how to build a team to win. I will be the next falcons gm and remember this TB, those are my initials When i get up there i will ATL Its first hardware.
Matt
April 19th, 2012
10:44 am
Besides, they were hoping to get AJ Green and took Julio as a plan B.
jerry
April 19th, 2012
10:45 am
It is Cold Hard Football Fact’s contention that quarterbacks make the receiver and not vice versa. They seem to pretty much know their stuff.
schmeckdawg
April 19th, 2012
10:45 am
No, no and a hell no for good measure!!!!!
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:45 am
@Kerryb
Only 4 seasons?
Does not sound like someone who buys season tickets every year.
To tell the truth, I like Mike Smith and wish him well.
The draft sure will be a bore for us though.
What do u think of TD’s free agents?
Not so great so far?
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:45 am
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:40 am
The Falcons plan is similar to the Dan Fouts Chargers as I keep saying.
It is great fun to watch against sub par defenses.
But we are not even that because I don;t recall Fouts being shut down the way the Giants hels us to 2 points.
They got out scored but not shutdown.
_____________________________________________________________
I think it has been addressed many times on here already that the Falcons had an OL problem last year. That’s why we were shut out. We had no line push to get 1 yard when we needed it in that game.
Liberty Media is evil!
April 19th, 2012
10:46 am
Kerryb,
Im not convinced that a coaching change will do all of that but its a nice dream.
Being a sports fan in Atlanta is a big let down. We get to see, first hand, how stupid a management can be. We get to watch the Texas Braves compete in the WS every year because we wanted to rent Texeira. Some idiot with the Braves thought Tex’s girlfriend would entice him to play for the Braves. How Naive.
We get to watch the Hawks… Not much to say that hasnt been said about them.
And we get to watch a Falcons team that went 13-3, had great promise, and then was managed back down to mediocre team with many, MANY holes.
I think I will have a t-shirt made that has all of Atlanta’s team logos on the front and then on the back put:
“Team’s Mottos.”
“Better luck next year!”
Fridawg
April 19th, 2012
10:46 am
That was a bone-headed draft pick. Julio is great, but giving up 2 first rounders, a 2nd rounder, and 2 4th rounders is too much unless you’re signing a franchise QB or beastly lineman. The scary thing is that it HAS worked out as well as possible. What if Julio hadn’t been the player he is? That was a GIGANTIC risk. The reward is nice, but doesn’t outweigh the risk.
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:46 am
I like the head coach and the owner.
As usual for the Falcons, the GM is the weak link.
ugafan13
April 19th, 2012
10:46 am
No he was not worth giving up all the picks. We had more pressing needs on the “O” line. The QB must have time to complete the ball to the recievers and many times last year MR was running for his life. On more than a couple of different occasions I thought he was dinged up from the knock downs and sacks. Bottom line we had better pay attention to the “O” line and protection or it matters not who the recievers are. We had too many 3 and outs last year that exposed our defense’s inability to pressure the opposing teams QB. Come to think of it the defense line under performed last year as well. Will be interesting to see what the new coordinators squeeze out of the same basic cadre of players we lined up with last year.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:48 am
Matt
April 19th, 2012
10:44 am
Besides, they were hoping to get AJ Green and took Julio as a plan B
________________________________________________________
I don’t think that is true. I think they would have took either one. If they wanted AJ and had to settle for Julio they wouldn’t have made the trade. I think they really wanted Julio for his added blocking ability in their run game. AJ was not known, even at UGA, for being a great blocker.
baddeal
April 19th, 2012
10:48 am
a huge draft mistake–giving up all those picks for a receiver. the incompetence of this franchise never ceases to amaze. Congrats!
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:49 am
Liberty Media is evil!
April 19th, 2012
10:46 am
Kerryb,
Im not convinced that a coaching change will do all of that but its a nice dream.
Being a sports fan in Atlanta is a big let down. We get to see, first hand, how stupid a management can be. We get to watch the Texas Braves compete in the WS every year because we wanted to rent Texeira. Some idiot with the Braves thought Tex’s girlfriend would entice him to play for the Braves. How Naive.
We get to watch the Hawks… Not much to say that hasnt been said about them.
And we get to watch a Falcons team that went 13-3, had great promise, and then was managed back down to mediocre team with many, MANY holes.
I think I will have a t-shirt made that has all of Atlanta’s team logos on the front and then on the back put:
“Team’s Mottos.”
“Better luck next year!”
____________________________________________________________________
You really think that Atlanta fans are the ONLY ones that say what you are saying? I bet you could go to half the cities that have sports teams and hear the same things.
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:49 am
@Libertymedia.
I pretty much agree.
One Braves championship is not enough.
There is one excuse though.
The smaller market teams get cheated just as the Seattle Seahawks did.
What if that Super Bowl had fair refs and the Seahawks won?
Maybe the start of a dynasty.
Now like most small market teams, they get stiffed and fall back.
Atlanta has cry baby fans
April 19th, 2012
10:50 am
LOL. I think it’s funny to read the whining on this blog.
Atlanta has cry baby fans
April 19th, 2012
10:50 am
“What if that Super Bowl had fair refs and the Seahawks won?
Maybe the start of a dynasty.”
Funniest thing I have read all year. LOL
Thanks for the laugh
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:51 am
ridawg
April 19th, 2012
10:46 am
That was a bone-headed draft pick. Julio is great, but giving up 2 first rounders, a 2nd rounder, and 2 4th rounders is too much unless you’re signing a franchise QB or beastly lineman. The scary thing is that it HAS worked out as well as possible. What if Julio hadn’t been the player he is? That was a GIGANTIC risk. The reward is nice, but doesn’t outweigh the risk.
______________________________________________________________
Once again we didn’t give up TWO first rounders. Only one which is this years.
D man
April 19th, 2012
10:51 am
Julio is worth the pick. Why? Because he will be a premier wide receiver for years to come and will help Matt Ryan become one of the top QBs in the game. What did we really give up to get him? This years 1st round pick that will not be as much of an impact player as Julio and 4 other non starter draft picks. TD knows that you can improve the team by FA’s and we have a young very talented team that will only get better. Atlanta, this team has a winning record for four straight years. Enough said about this. Falcons will dominate the NFC for years to come…
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:51 am
@Kerryb.
U r putting up a good fight for your cause.
Congrats for having the moxie to take so many on.
Hillbilly D
April 19th, 2012
10:52 am
Barring injury, etc, Julio is probably going to have a good career and be a valuable receiver. The trade has to be taken in context, though. The move was the type of move that a team makes to get over the hump and go deep in the playoffs, if not to the Super Bowl. The Falcons weren’t close enough to the hump to make that kind of deal. Like a lot of sports teams, I think they overestimated the team they had and thought they were closer than they were, realistically. Most likely, they’ll be paying the price the next 2-3 years until they can restock draft picks.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:52 am
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
10:49 am
@Libertymedia.
I pretty much agree.
One Braves championship is not enough.
There is one excuse though.
The smaller market teams get cheated just as the Seattle Seahawks did.
What if that Super Bowl had fair refs and the Seahawks won?
Maybe the start of a dynasty.
Now like most small market teams, they get stiffed and fall back.
______________________________________________________
The Braves are not considered a small market team. Someone like Kansas City is a small market team.
GTBob
April 19th, 2012
10:52 am
He now has a year under his belt. Watch what happens next year.
The problem isn’t him, the problem is that Matt Ryan isn’t a gunslinging QB. You say we needed to open up Roddy White. Was Roddy significantly better this year? We are going to run the ball half the time and pass it half the time. Trading away two drafts for a number 2 receiver when we needed defensive help has a terrible idea and it will continue to hurt us.
Ralph
April 19th, 2012
10:54 am
They made the right move. Julio is going to be a beast on the field. His speed is a game changer and the boy was only a rookie year ago. If the line holds up on protection the falcons are going to succeed in the passing game.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
10:57 am
If we can get a bounce back year from Ray Edwards then the defense will be okay. I think Edwards did not recover from the off season knee surgery for most of last season. We also signed him late so he didn’t get an off season working with our defense. A healthy Ray Edwards with Abraham, Peters, and Babineaux is a pretty good D line
Liberty Media is evil!
April 19th, 2012
11:01 am
Dman,
“TD knows that you can improve the team by FA’s and we have a young very talented team that will only get better.”
HAHAHAHA. You have been out hunting in the south Georgia forests for the last 2 months. We have so many “older” players with large salaries that we have no cap space. TD has managed us into a hole that will be very difficult to emerge from.
Dallis04
April 19th, 2012
11:01 am
No way he was worth…Not many players are worth that…especially knowing his injury history??!! I mean it’s common sense.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
11:02 am
GTBob
April 19th, 2012
10:52 am
He now has a year under his belt. Watch what happens next year.
The problem isn’t him, the problem is that Matt Ryan isn’t a gunslinging QB. You say we needed to open up Roddy White. Was Roddy significantly better this year? We are going to run the ball half the time and pass it half the time. Trading away two drafts for a number 2 receiver when we needed defensive help has a terrible idea and it will continue to hurt us.
_________________________________________________________________
Joe Montana wasn’t a gun slinging QB either. The west coast offense was a ding and dunk offense. Let’s wait and see how Koetter uses his QB and WR’s next year. Mularkey was a 3 yards and a cloud of dust OC. From what I have read Koetter is more of an open it up type. He was at Oregon and Boise State and they became an open it and throw the ball teams.
Rodster
April 19th, 2012
11:03 am
He’s a very good player. Whether or not he was worth the price in draft picks will always be a topic of some conjecture. I think it is still too soon to say for sure, but one thing is for certain, you cannot make a credible case that he was not worth it.
Dr.EB
April 19th, 2012
11:05 am
I say that he was worth it.
Kerryb
April 19th, 2012
11:07 am
Think about this. Julio had a good rookie season last year and he did not have any rookie mini camp, no OTA’s in the off season. Just those pick up practices with the veteran players and no coaches. Think how much better he’s going to be with an off season worth of work and off season coaching from Robinski.
Buckeye
April 19th, 2012
11:13 am
Let’s see what the new O-Coordinator does with him.
Bill
April 19th, 2012
11:14 am
Yes,yes,yes..now counter it with free agents..
GTBob
April 19th, 2012
11:16 am
Think how much better he’s going to be with an off season worth of work and off season coaching from Robinski.
He is going to be a good receiver. I don’t think anyone disputes that. The problem I have is how much will it help our team even if he becomes the best receiver in the NFL. I don’t think that would even turn us into a serious playoff contender.
3rdandlong
April 19th, 2012
11:19 am
Not so fast lets really look at this deal people keep saying you gave up a 1st round pick the 27th you swapped picks in the 1st round you gave up a 1st for this year. I saw a stat where he was 4th in the NFL for catches for 40 yards plus. With no camp and very little time to get ready and he missed a few games he still had almost 1,000 yards. The NFL sets the price for draft picks, they could not do much more than pay. If they had a top ten pick this year with Roddy and Jenkins and a aging TE they would still need a WR the future at WR is set now lets move on to some other needs. I think the price was right….
extremus
April 19th, 2012
11:20 am
Let’s hold off on assessments of “worth it” until at least after this year, since the Falcons will be utilizing a new offensive scheme (and hopefully one that maximizes rather than minimizes the potential of the players on the field). If suddenly the offense is truly the “explosive” weapon we were promised last season and Jones is a big part of that, then yes, he’d have been worth it. If not, well, probably not.
Gary
April 19th, 2012
11:20 am
Only time will tell if this was a good trade, but it is downright silly to blame the Falcon’s embarrassing playoff loss to the draft. Whatever problems they have (I am in the poor offensive line performance camp) it had nothing to do with the Jones trade. Draft picks are always an unknown, but when you know a player will be a star as in Julio, sometimes you need to do what it takes to get them. If you dont have draft picks, you need to either be active in the free agent market, or coaching the heck out of the players you do have. Smith and his two new coordinators have their work cut out for them.
Minor improvement at GM for Falcons
April 19th, 2012
11:21 am
@Kerryb.
Grissom was obviously safe in stolen base attempt late in game 6.
Boston proved a series can turn on a stolen base.
Why did we fail to get the obvious call?
NY vs Atlanta.
Yankees get the call.
Ump might as well have given all Atlanta fans the finger.
jerry
April 19th, 2012
11:22 am
I guess they needed some speed since having Turner, Mughelli, and Gonzales on the field at the same time was like entering three mules in the Kentucky Derby.
maharajiean shorts
April 19th, 2012
11:23 am
It was a bad move, but not because of anything Julio did. TD is showing to not be the genius behind his retrosexual eyeglasses, dude is just busting on the front and back of our drafts. It’s his job to tell Arhtur Blank (if he did make this call) to be patient and get a LT worth a darn before you get a WR.
Plus, look at our D…..baaaaaad, and our OL, baaaaad. Like I said, no Julio bashing its just that the kid cannot fix the issues we should have used with that 1st rounder last year and the boatload we gave up to get him. 8-8, here we come.