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The odds for Julio Jones’ next team were taken down at major sportsbooks on Friday, but not before the numbers from DraftKings were recorded for posterity.
Once the June 1 NFL deadline hits, the Atlanta Falcons star’s trade request will be expedited. Based on DraftKings’ listings, several contenders emerged as favorites to acquire Jones — and some seriously surprising suitors.
While the New England Patriots were the favorites to get Jones, the Los Angeles Rams were tied in the No. 2 spot with the Tennessee Titans at +500.
| Team | Julio Jones next team odds |
| New England Patriots | +450 |
| Los Angeles Rams | +500 |
| Tennessee Titans | +500 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +900 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +900 |
| San Francisco 49ers | +900 |
DraftKings’ specific prop bet actually revolved around which team Jones will play his first snap for in 2021. Thus, you could’ve bet on the Falcons to hang onto Jones at +600 odds, but based on the way things have been trending, that wasn’t a wise wager.
Jones said publicly, on live TV, that he wasn’t returning to Atlanta. Unless something drastically changes, he’s played his last down for the Falcons. So, let’s look a little closer at the most notable teams listed above.
Could Los Angeles Rams shock the NFL world again with Julio Jones trade?
Rams general manager Les Snead seems to detest high draft picks. He’s shipped away years’ worth of No. 1 selections to acquire stars like cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and this offseason, quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Because of how expensive the Stafford-Jared Goff trade was for LA, it’s imperative that it pays off. One way to ensure that it does is landing a receiver of Jones’ caliber.
That’s going to be easier said than done, considering it took two future first-rounders to get Stafford in the first place. The Falcons are reportedly seeking a No. 1 pick for Jones, and the Rams can’t offer one in the very near future.
If Los Angeles is serious about beating out its competition in the Jones sweepstakes, it’d probably take multiple Day 2 draft picks, and perhaps a proven player, to get a deal done. Don’t put it past this front office, though.
Julio Jones next team odds: Intriguing dark-horse suitors
The fact that the San Francisco 49ers traded away two future first-round picks for the rights to draft Trey Lance this year may mean they can’t offer enough to land Jones. It’d be awesome to see the wideout reunited with former Falcons play-caller Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, yet oddsmakers didn’t view the Niners’ chances very favorably.
Ther were two other noteworthy teams who seemed to emerge as potential destinations for Jones: The Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers.
Both teams have new head coaches, and two of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL. While LA’s Justin Herbert has a go-to target in Keenan Allen already, having another veteran to lean on in Jones would raise the NFL sophomore’s 2021 ceiling even higher.
The Bolts’ offense would be exciting with Jones in the fold, yet the Jaguars seem even more intriguing. They’ve just drafted Trevor Lawrence No. 1 overall, and have a solid-but-not-spectacular trio of receivers in D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault Jr. and Marvin Jones.
Urban Meyer rolled the dice with his credibility early on by signing Tim Tebow in the ultimate nepotistic NFL transaction. What better way for Jacksonville to show its all-in approach to winning now than by making a splash and trading for a star of Jones’ caliber?
It’s a wide-open AFC South division, and the Jags could have an X-factor on their hands if they pull off a Jones trade.
Julio Jones reportedly wants to play with Cam Newton on Patriots
Of all the quarterbacks in the NFL, you might be surprised to hear that Jones apparently wants to play alongside Cam Newton on the Patriots.
Who could blame Jones for being curious about the “Patriot Way” in New England that’s translated to so much winning — and resulted in the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead to lose the Super Bowl in Jones’ best chance at a Lombardi Trophy?
It’d be so bizarre if Bill Belichick could pull off this deal given the pain inflicted on the Falcons from that big-stage backstory, but considering how often he’s whiffed on first-round picks in recent years and the fact that the Patriots are usually picking late in the round anyway, parting with a Day 1 draft asset isn’t a huge deal.
Plus, Belichick has built an exceptional, deep New England defense, so any number of established players could be on the block in negotiations centered around Jones, such as former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. He’s the type of proven cornerback who’d pair well with A.J. Terrell and give Atlanta’s D much-needed leadership.
Whatever happens with Jones, it seems like a dicey bet to wager on him going anywhere but New England given the circumstances. It shouldn’t be long until we all find out what his next move is.
Related: 2022 NFL Power Rankings – Outlook for all 32 teams entering summer