The 49ers have already pulled off one blockbuster trade this offseason, and they might not be done. When asked about the team’s potential interest in Falcons wideout Julio Jones, head coach Kyle Shanahan noted that the team’s acquisition of the No. 3 pick (and subsequent selection of Trey Lance) may have paved the way for another major deal.
“Well, you know I’m not legally allowed to talk about players on other teams,” Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “So I can’t answer that exactly the way you want me to.
“Anyone I’ve coached in the past that I have a relationship with, especially a great dude like Julio, obviously I have a ton of respect for. We’re always interested in improving our team. We’ll never just say, ‘Hey, we’re done. We can’t improve our team.’ You always try to make that happen. But, yeah, it makes it harder when you’ve already given up some stuff to make some moves and things like that.”
As Shanahan noted, the coach served as the Falcons offensive coordinator between 2015 and 2016, a pair of seasons that saw Jones compile 3,280 total yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. Five years later, Jones finds himself on the trade block while Shanahan finds himself loading up for an eventual run at the championship.
We learned yesterday that Jones had already requested a trade, and this followed reports that the Falcons would consider dealing the future Hall of Famer as they looked to clear some money off the books. Plenty of teams would naturally have interest in the wideout, but only a handful of names have definitively trickled out over the past few days, including the Patriots and Titans.
While the 49ers won’t be able to satisfy the Falcons’ desire for a first-round pick, they have the cap space to make a deal happen. Plus, Jones would add some legitimacy to an offense that (outside of tight end George Kittle) is predicated on youth and upside. While former first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk and former second-round pick Deebo Samuel have the draft pedigree, the young duo combined for only 1,242 all-purpose yards last season (albeit in only 19 combined games).
Yeeeeeee now they just need a qb to throw to him jimmys shaky as a mother and the other guys just a lil baby
You’re miserable, aren’t you? Go outside and enjoy nature for a while.
Whatever bro that’s rude
And your initial post was a beacon of courtesy…
Jimmy has been gimpy since he hurt his ankle early last season and lance is a literal rookie it would suck if they brought over Julio w their remaining assets and cap space and had nick mullens throwing to him or possibly pull an Alex smith on lance. Didn’t mean to be rude just saying it would suck
I don’t see Jones being traded to either the Patriots or 49ers since they play the Falcons this season. The team that acquires Julio will have to extend his contract so the expense involved there makes it unlikely they would also cough up a first round pick.
Why would they have to extend him? he’s under contract for the next 3 years
I don’t think there’s been a team in the history of the league that has considered whether or not they play another team that year before doing a trade with them. If you get a great offer, you take it.
Division rivals, sure. But a team saying ‘we’ve received a great offer from the 49ers, but we have one game against them this year so no dice’ probably wouldn’t happen.
And Jones is already signed for 2021, 2022, and likely 2023. No need to extend.
Why would they have to extend a guy who is signed until he’s 35? He’s got 3 years left on his deal that averages over 20M per season. No one has to extend a thing.
If signing Julio keeps you from signing Warner. Leave it alone