After speculation keep the Seahawks’ atop the checklist of doable suitors for Julio Jones, the massive name receiver will in its assign be taking his skills to the AFC South.
Exactly a week ago to the day, ESPN’s Dianna Russini sent the Seahawks’ fanbase right into a frenzy with a single tweet. Pointing out Seattle as a doable suitor for Atlanta receiver Julio Jones, and namedropping quarterback Russell Wilson as a driver of that keenness, speculation and debate ran rampant for the subsequent six days.
That would possibly perhaps now reach to an abrupt cease because the Falcons and Titans have reportedly agreed on a alternate that can bring Jones to Nashville. In conserving with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Atlanta will receive “not lower than” a 2d-spherical use in return, though closing compensation remains to be being hammered out between the two events.
This likely proved to be too costly for the Seahawks’ tastes. Already without their first-spherical use in 2022 after sending it to the Jets in final summer season’s alternate for security Jamal Adams, dealing their 2d-rounder as properly would have surely pushed them out of what’s expected to be essentially the most “standard” draft since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Moreover, receiver used to be not a prime need of Seattle’s following its 2d-spherical alternative of Western Michigan pass-catcher D’Wayne Eskridge this April. Moreover it is miles a situation that is had vital investments poured into it with extra coming down the pipeline. Tyler Lockett used to be given a four-year, $69.2 million extension earlier this offseason, and the numerous half of of the Seahawks’ large name receiving duo, DK Metcalf, can also potentially push for an extension price an upwards of $20 million yearly when he becomes eligible for negotiations subsequent year.
Had the Seahawks traded for Jones, he would have mark them $15.3 million in salary cap space this season. Per OverTheCap.com, they very top have $7.2 million within the intervening time accessible and maintain ardour within the likes of free brokers K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman. The likeliest route to making a alternate work used to be thru a restructure of both Wilson or linebacker Bobby Wagner’s contracts – one thing they’ve shunned doing up to this level – or making a good longer time period commitment to Jones in explain to lower his 2021 cap hit.
The possibility used to be there within the occasion that they so wished to aggressively pursue it, nonetheless the hurdles that wished to be overcome proved too remarkable within the cease.
The Titans adding Jones restful impacts the Seahawks in one draw, nonetheless; the two teams are slated to face off towards every other at Lumen Enviornment in Week 2 this September. An already sophisticated discipline aesthetic was extra daunting for Seattle in its home opener, now confronted with the duty of covering Jones and A.J. Brown all whereas making an strive to cease the punishing running force of Derrick Henry.
However for Seattle fans, this consequence remains to be severely of a welcome one. All of the workforce’s divisional opponents had been linked to Jones at one level or one more in this project and, given the arms dawdle that is the NFC West, many were concerned the Seahawks would must survey the 5-time All-Pro twice a year within the occasion that they did not land him themselves.
Whereas it is unlikely to be confirmed how serious the Seahawks were just a few alternate for Jones, do not be vastly surprised to survey them linked to various excessive-caliber gamers over the route of the summer season. Celebrated manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have openly acknowledged they kick the tires on every alternative that gifts itself, and a distinguished summertime alternate has was one thing of an annual custom for them the previous few years.
