Well-known free agent wideouts are still available for KC Chiefs

Julio Jones

It wasn’t so long ago that Julio Jones was named among the top wide receivers in the business, and the Atlanta Falcons had decided to lock him up for $22 million per season as recently as 2019. Given his consistent production for the Falcons, it made sense to give a hefty third contract to a franchise legend. And then he hit the wall.

Injuries began to play a part in things for Jones the year after he turned 30 and limited him to 9 games in 2020, yet even then he still managed to put up nearly 800 yards (771) on 51 catches and 3 touchdowns. Even then, it was hard to see whether he was beginning to spiral downward or whether he could get back to the Julio of old.

Last season, the Tennessee Titans took a chance on Jones for a second-round pick and smaller parts, but the results were miserable. Once again, Jones was limited and played in only 10 games. His totals were all career-lows in production, including 31 catches for 434 yards and 1 touchdown.

These days, Jones isn’t going to fool anyone into a multi-year deal but he’s not so far removed from solid production (and only two years removed from a Pro Bowl appearance). He’s also a big target who lines up wide but can also add a big slot with plenty of experience who might add something to a younger room in terms of leadership and mentorship.