The Julio Jones trade rumors continue to swirl, and it appears yet another NFL team has emerged as a potential landing spot.
A number of teams have already been rumored to be interested in Jones — most recently, the 49ers — and it’s really looking unlikely that he’ll be playing for the Falcons once Week 1 rolls around. He still has two years remaining on his current deal, with the opportunity to opt out of it in 2023.
The majority of those teams are viewed as contenders, but the one that’s been discussed most recently is coming off a disappointing season. The Patriots were 7-9 in 2020, posting only their second losing record since Bill Belichick took over just over two decades ago. They did go on a free-agency spending spree a few months ago, and maybe that, as well as a prior relationship with Cam Newton, is why Jones is rumored to want to play there.
A recent report from Michael Holley of NBC Sports Boston indicated that Jones wants to play with Newton.
“You know who [Jones] really wants to play with? …He wants to play with Cam Newton. He likes Cam,” Holley said on “Boston Sports Tonight.” “That’s the other thing: He thinks Matt Ryan has lost a little zing on his deep ball.”
The Patriots have already spent a ton of money, so it’s hard to see them giving up draft capital to acquire Jones, which could really put their future in jeopardy. But maybe they’re feeling the pressure to make another big move. Time will tell.
