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
Dawg Dude
April 19th, 2012
11:24 am
Much like UGA I think the play calling is what held the Falcons back last year.
maharajiean shorts
April 19th, 2012
11:25 am
Also, TD….stop drafting players with injury history bro, see Baker, Perry, etc. And quit trying to land the next Tom Brady gem in the 7th round, rounds 5-7 playes are about as good as FA’s. See punter, last year??? DERRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPPPPP.
geno
April 19th, 2012
11:29 am
Of course he was worth it!!! Talent, Size, and Speed, are at a premium, in the NFL. These types of players go early in the draft, because their abilities are so coveted. When your picking later in the draft, it’s costly to move up. But, this guy is a rare talent, and he hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential. Julio is a game changer, and time will prove it.
Liberty Media is evil!
April 19th, 2012
11:34 am
Shorts,
I agree on the injury ridden comment.
We keep getting players that may of went off in the top 10 first round but they were “injured” in their last season in college, etc.
Im sure we made the re-signing of Harry Douglas a priority as backup to Jones and White. Hopefully these new coaches will devise play packages that dont let our prized WR’s get pummeled on 4 to 7 yard short passes.
Dawgustus
April 19th, 2012
11:34 am
It was a bad move. No college WR is worth what the Falcons gave up for Julio, the worst part being the #’s 1 & 4 for this year. If you’re going to sell the farm for one guy, pull a Ditka and give up all of your picks in that one year. That way when it becomes apparent later that you paid too much, at least you only have one year of lost opportunity to regret.
Puppet Please
April 19th, 2012
11:36 am
This is what happens when the owner starts influencing personnel decisions. Blank wanted a shiny hood ornament for his franchise QB (who lacks confidence in his arm strength) to throw down field to. The problem is when you want to throw downfield, you have to have a) a QB who CAN throw downfield and b) a line that will provide said QB the time to throw downfield. The Falcons have neither, so we in essence have a Ferrari on a farm with a dirt road. The Ferrari sure looks good and can still look impressive in the right conditions but its not really a fully functioning piece of equipment that will make the farmer money…..its just really nice to have.
So…..bad move. If we were going to move up, we should have gotten a can’t miss OT, DB or DLineman. We didn’t and now we are paying the price. The Falcons fall will be traced back to this move and Arthur needs to learn from this and keep his nose out of the personnel decisions. If he wants to win, of course.
georgia boi
April 19th, 2012
11:38 am
Almost 1000 8tds in 12.5 games speaks for itself as a rookie nxt year he will break out 10+tds 1000 +yrds
jay
April 19th, 2012
11:39 am
Let’s see he is a bigger, stronger version of Roddy White. White was taken late in the 1st round and is now one of the elite receivers in the league and a key part of a 13-3 season. Yep I think he was worth it.
georgia boi
April 19th, 2012
11:44 am
Better question would be is matt ryan the quarterback to take the falcons to the sb… Lacks most qualities sb winning have…. Playmaking abilities, arm strength, etc… Although matt is clutch in 4th and wins home games
slydog
April 19th, 2012
11:44 am
OMG!!! Here we go again with this. Someone must be bored. Ok, if you are a Falcons fan and you expected this team to be in the Super Bowl, not just contention, from last season on to the next 2 seasons, then it was a bad trade. If you are willing to wait for the Falcons defense (and Matt Ryan) to catch up with the rest of the offense, then it was a good trade “for the future.” Sometimes a talent like Julio Jones cannot be passed up. There will be very few receivers in college coming out in the next 3-4 years who will be as good as Julio Jones and AJ Green. Remember, the Falcons were ONE pick from having Adrian Peterson after he was passed over twice. We haven’t been in that position in 7 years. Overall, it was a good trade, but one to yield benefits down the road, not NOW.
Atlantan
April 19th, 2012
11:44 am
Im sure you think its too much for him Mark because he is not from UGA. But I am sure AJ Greene would have been well worth the money.
Roll Tide!!!!!!
fan
April 19th, 2012
11:45 am
yes, falcons just have bad coaching staff who dont know how to utilize talent
Ryan's dad
April 19th, 2012
11:47 am
When you give up all of your draft picks, you have to be willing to meet some needs through free agent acquisitions. Falcons did not seem ready to do this. Getting Julio was much more exciting than getting three unknown draft picks last year. However, for people who like the draft more than they like football, this season is a bust!
Atlantan
April 19th, 2012
11:47 am
Mark, lay off the botox. Your forehead is already kind of big. Starting to look like a Vulcan.
Special K
April 19th, 2012
11:50 am
Let’s have this conversation in 5 years and see how we all feel. RTR!!!
evil empire
April 19th, 2012
11:55 am
plenty of rb’s and wr’s walking the street….you should have taken defense…
Michael
April 19th, 2012
11:56 am
Because of his speed he would always have to come back and catch the ball. I don’t think Julio is the problem. You need a arm that can match his speed.
Liberty Media is evil!
April 19th, 2012
11:57 am
Slydog,
Two things. Free agency. Salary cap space.
This isnt Madden football on the XBox.
This is the problem with our country. People willing to debate the undefendable. We traded all of those picks, young players that wouldve allowed us to drop some of our expensive veterans, for a wide receiver. He wasnt even the best wide out in the draft. If someone has the brass ones to compare Jones to A.J. Green then you are about as capable of judging talent as TD himself.
Now we still have no defense, no pass rush, and no OL. Next season we will have to address tight end, running back, Brent Grimes, and other spots. We have no salary cap space.
The Jones trade will go down as the worst trade in Falcon’s history. It will handcuff us to mediocrity and your precious Julio Jones will be up for free agency by the time this team has the slightest chance to recover.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is blind, and was out hunting during this years FA.
Unless you think Blank is going to lobby the NFL to raise next years cap by say 30 million dollars.
ROFL.
Prime Time
April 19th, 2012
11:57 am
No way he is worth what the Birds gave up. You give up that much for a Calvin Johnson only. Julio isn’t that. He doesn’t have the best hands I have ever seen at WR either. SHould have kept that pick and built the Defensive depth.
Stirring the PooPoo Pot
April 19th, 2012
11:58 am
It will be all better when the Falcons trade Roddy next week for a 1st and 4th rounders.
Progress
April 19th, 2012
11:59 am
Wide receivers don’t make the engine run any better? Somehow I don’t think New England would be quite as good without Wes Welker. I know that Detroit wouldn’t have had the success they did last year without Calvin Johnson. How about the 49ers in the 80’s without Jerry Rice? It gives men a bad name when “Mans Laws” correlate with nothing more than stupidity.
Puppet Please
April 19th, 2012
12:02 pm
Only a Bammer would think Julio is worth it. And if they were honest with themselves they would know that Julio didn’t add much to the table at Bama. He scored 4 touchdowns against SEC opponents in 2010, and only really showed up against Auburn….but only for a half in that one as well. He is big, fast and strong, but he doens’t show up when needed….those show signs of million dollar body, 10 cent head.
Rod "straight outta Augusta" Johnson
April 19th, 2012
12:03 pm
There are several ways that we can look at this. We can look at it from a talent evaluation perspective and then we can look at it from a business perspective. Bottomline, it was worth it. You can’t name a WR talent this good in college right now, which means we had to get him. There is absolutely nothing exciting about this years draft class. Its obvious Roddy was not himself last year and could be showing signs of slowing down.
From a salary cap point of view, we lost some draft pieces, but if we would have kept all of those picks, would we have had the cap space to re-sign this year? Probably not.
I agree with the fella from early, we gotta remember this is not Madden.
Longtimefan
April 19th, 2012
12:03 pm
It’s a little misleading to say we gave up a first round last year and this year. We swapped places in the first round last year and gave up this years first round pick plus the other later round picks. Just to clarify.
tony
April 19th, 2012
12:04 pm
I guess based on that guy’s article, Cleveland should win the super owl in a couple of years
Liberty Media is evil!
April 19th, 2012
12:06 pm
Stirring,
I have been saying that for 3 months.
The Falcons ONLY chance for redemption is to trade Roddy now. If you want to bet everything on Jones then prove it by trading White. I wouldnt even ask for a 1. I would trade for a 2, 4, 5, 6, 7. Lots of young guys in this very deep draft pool.
Section242
April 19th, 2012
12:09 pm
Wonder what Detroit thinks of taking Calvin Johnson with their 2007 #2 overall draft pick? As I remember they were blasted in the media since they had spent their 1st round 2005 on Mike Williams. CJ turned out to be a hellova shiny hood ornament!
Dirty Dawg
April 19th, 2012
12:11 pm
I’ve wondered why would a GM like Dimitrof (sp?) who had demonstrated a solid mindset toward building a NFL team, would ‘roll the dice’ on such an ‘all or nothing’ bet. Maybe the reality is that a GM that’s capable of making the Julio Jones deal in the first place, risky as it was, just might not have done much with the picks they traded away…let’s just hope that it won’t go down in Falcon lore as the equal to the knee-jerk firing of Leeman Bennett, Arthur Blank’s pushing Mike Vick’s wheelchair onto the field or our Man of the Year’s decision to go looking for a late-night BJ before our only Super Bowl.
By the way, are we really going to go along with building, paying for, a new stadium just so an owner can make can make more money when he’s already got more than he or his off-spring will ever be able to spend? Win something Baby…then maybe we’ll see.
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
12:13 pm
In 5 years when he’s 27, and he’s been to 2 or 3 Pro Bowls, and is leading the renaissance of this team after the Turner, Gonzalez, White, McClure, Abraham etc. era on this team is over – we’ll probably forget his high price tag.
Dude, if healthy, has HOF written all over his career.
Email Profiling Is Wrong
April 19th, 2012
12:13 pm
@ Driver 8 said it all -
” Why mortgage everything on a deep threat when your QB can’t throw deep??”
But to be fair to the Falcons’ brain trust, after the 13-3 season – even with the playoff debacle against Green Bay – we appeared fairly sound. So why not take the audacious step of exchanging four picks that would result in serviceable talent for one pick that yields a true game changer?
Who knew the departure of Harvey Dahl would decimate the O-line? Who new the pass rush would still be mediocre after the free-agent acquisition of Ray Edwards? Who knew Matty Nice would continue to morph into the Incredible Mister Limpet?
Julio appears to be the real deal. He’s productive, big, tough, fast and explosive; and he proved it time and time again WHEN RYAN CAN GOT HIM THE BALL.
I think you can argue, that to some extent, a WR is only as good as the QB throwing him the ball. Any evaluation of Jones has to be weighted heavily with that consideration.
GTBob
April 19th, 2012
12:15 pm
Wonder what Detroit thinks of taking Calvin Johnson with their 2007 #2 overall draft pick?
They went 3-13 the year before. They had holes at pretty much every position and didn’t have to give up two drafts to get him. It was a little bit different circumstance.
Liberty Media is evil!
April 19th, 2012
12:19 pm
Jones made that amazing catch when Matty basically threw the ball behind him. It was the #1 play of the week.
Unfortunately Jones would need to make 4 of those a game just to keep us in it.
It will be interesting to see where the Brent Grimes franchise drama leads us. I can imagine him sitting out if we dont give him a 5 year contract.
No wonder “Hard Knocks” wants to do the Falcons this year. Grimes will provide all of the drama.
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
12:19 pm
I just don’t think a low 1st, a low 2nd, low 4th from last year’s draft would have made much difference for us last season. Julio did until the playoffs – may that game stunk.
But I put that on coaching, not on the players. Playing that game without Julio, but with the 27th, 59th, and 184th or whatever pick would not have helped that Giants debacle. Only better coaching.
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
12:20 pm
“Man” that game stunk my last post should read – and 124th pick, not 184th pick – went back and looked at the article.
Joe Falcon
April 19th, 2012
12:21 pm
Without Julio, Falcons would not have even made the playoffs. So, yeah, I would say he was worth it.
Big Crimson 75
April 19th, 2012
12:21 pm
How dare you even ask this question.
Julio Jones will retire the greatest Falcon Receiver ever!
G-Man
April 19th, 2012
12:23 pm
No way. Dimitroff’s rationale at the time was that we had plenty of talent on defense in reserve. I’m not seeing that talent anywhere and nothing was really filled in free agency.
RockyB
April 19th, 2012
12:24 pm
Interesting strategy…Every year trade all your draft picks for the right to draft a sure thing top of the draft Pro Bowl player. Over 10 years your team has been stocked with 10 pro bowlers. Pick up the rest of your roster from FA and undrafted FA. Because of the salary cap this would probably not work. Thoughts?
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
12:26 pm
All I know gents (and ladies) is that is probably our last run for a few years. We have a bunch of important, contributing old guys, and this is probably their last realistic hoorah to make the SuperBowl.
And a 2nd year Julio Jones gives us a much better chance to make a run, than a couple of picks in the 20’s (22 and 27), a 59th pick, and 2 fourth rounders, that would be in their 1st or 2nd season.
Go to war with an upcoming Julio, a slowly descending Roddy, and Turner and Gonzalez who may both have 1 more decent season left. Let’s see what happens.
Then you still have Julio for 10 more years to rebuild around.
Section242
April 19th, 2012
12:26 pm
Holes at every position and filling a hole that had just been filled was the issue. My point is that a dominant receiver is more than a shiny hood ornament.
BTW – We gave up a second and a fourth last year. First and fourth this year. Hardly two whole drafts.
BravesFan79
April 19th, 2012
12:27 pm
I still wish we had traded away our draft about 3 or 4 seasons ago and grabbed Calvin Johnson. Now THATS a game changer!
Boise Dawg
April 19th, 2012
12:27 pm
Nothing against Julio Jones, I hope he goes on to a long and successful career. I read somewhere that Dimitroff asked for Belichek’s advice on whether they should give up all those picks to grab Jones and he told him not to do it. This isn’t hindsight, because I thought it was a mistake at the time…I just didn’t see where a receiver like Jones was such a pressing need… especially when your franchise QB struggles with deep throws.
Scott
April 19th, 2012
12:28 pm
Way too early to tell if Julio was worth it! Let’s see how the offense works under the new Offensive Coordinator. Hopefully MUCH better.
JSS
April 19th, 2012
12:28 pm
Ha ha, teams still doubled Roddy and took away deep throws. They even single covered your great wideouts! The difference again was line play and the QB. The only thing that is going to free up the outside receivers is to have a fast tight end to free up the outside making teams go the middle of the field.Those first throws in the Houston games were attempting but with receivers running post patterns. The Texans dared them to beat them, D-A-R-E-D them! Look, Julio is a fine talent, but he’s never going to be the freak that Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, or Larry Fitzgerald happen to be in performance. Let’s hope that he can make it to the Reggie Wayne/Marvin Harrison level which is a excellent talent meeting excellent execution of potential…
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
12:29 pm
I don’t think trades like this should be made very often. But once every 5 or 10 years, if the circumstances dictate – yes, not bad.
Didn’t Washington trade 3 1st Picks to get RG3? And I guess they won’t regret it, unless he gets hurt or something.
yo mama
April 19th, 2012
12:31 pm
i guess everyone forgot their was a lockout. Bradley you amaze me with your short sightedness. no otas, no advanced preparedness with the new lineup, equals a super bowl W for an otherwise average GMEN team. the falcons had a desperate need to keep up with the saints firepower, and if you dont make a move for a all pro reciever, then crys for change are worse this year. lets look at micheal jenkins stats in his last season with the falcons, and first season with the vikings.
jenkins had 38 rec for 466 yards, and three td’s. julio who missed half of the packer game, and several others started 13, but really played in 12, had more than double the yards 959 yards, 54 rec’s, and 8 td’s. i think it was a good move, and the falcons didnt have any roster spots for those draft picks, etc. in the long run, julio will make folks shut up. hamstring injuries happen to everyone. last years oline was the weak link and matt ryan was a tough cookie and dealt with it like a pro. sports writers are all wussies who never played the game, or even had the skill to be an athlete, and it takes zero skill to be a journalist these days. D, Orlando ledbetter is a prime example. i worked in tv news for years and that guy would have never gotten a job, his writing isnt polished, and his presumptions are all skewed… Bradley, ask yourself this question. where would the falcons be last year without julio. sitting at home watching the wildcard weekend.
i think i have said enough.
TBone
April 19th, 2012
12:34 pm
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we’d all have a Merry Christmas. Why is this being dragged up again? Have we become so slothful and devoid of thought we must rehash all events annually?
blue
April 19th, 2012
12:34 pm
Two words for the guy saying all WR’s are “hood ornaments”; Calvin Johnson.
Argument dismissed.
GTBob
April 19th, 2012
12:36 pm
Didn’t Washington trade 3 1st Picks to get RG3? And I guess they won’t regret it, unless he gets hurt or something.
Trading a lot to get a QB for the future, when you really need a QB makes a lot more sense then trading a lot to get a wide receiver.
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
12:37 pm
And Washington’s 1st picks are liable to be good – This seasons is #6, and the #38 2nd pick.
Washington’s probably going to have higher picks than 22 and 27 the next two seasons they ship to Cleveland as well.
So 4 picks for a #2. And those 4 picks are going to be a #6, probably 2 in the middle of the 1st round, and the #38.
Now I know QB is a more important position than WR, but still, they gave up alot more than we did.
And if we knew Reggie White 2 or something was coming out next season in the draft, I say make another deal just like this. A game changer.