The extensions for wide receivers keep on coming as we head in to the first Sunday of the 2019 NFL season, and Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons made history with their star. The Falcons gave wide receiver Julio Jones a three-year contract extension that is worth $66 million. This contract includes $66 million in guaranteed money, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Not only is the entire deal guaranteed, but $64 million is due at signing for a guy that did not even have to hold out or miss a game to get this deal.
The amount he is receiving at signing is 97% of his overall contract, which breaks the previous record for a non-quarterback contract, which was Trey Flowers getting 74% from the Detroit Lions this past off-season. There was some talks of Jones missing Sunday's season opener due to the contract negotiations, but he never confirmed if he would hold out without a deal. Now there is no doubt that he will be in the lineup on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones is a six-time Pro Bowl selection, yet had to wait over a year to get the deal done since his last negotiation, which was July 27th, 2018. He had two years and $21 million left on his previous contract, and despite not having a deal done, he still showed up to training camp on time, but did not play in the preseason. Although, sources close to the team said that him sitting the preseason had nothing to do with his contract.
The Falcons' star is the fastest wide receiver to reach 10,000 receiving yards, doing so in 103 career NFL games. He also holds eight other franchise records, as he enters 2019 with five straight seasons of at least 80 catches and 1,400 receiving yards. He is also on pace to break yet another franchise record, as his 10,731 receiving yards is 133 shy of passing Roddy White for the most in Falcons history. The former sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft now joins his quarterback, Matt Ryan, who signed a five-year, $150 million contract last summer. Those two can now focus returning to the Super Bowl to avenge their debacle against the New England Patriots.
The amount he is receiving at signing is 97% of his overall contract, which breaks the previous record for a non-quarterback contract, which was Trey Flowers getting 74% from the Detroit Lions this past off-season. There was some talks of Jones missing Sunday's season opener due to the contract negotiations, but he never confirmed if he would hold out without a deal. Now there is no doubt that he will be in the lineup on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones is a six-time Pro Bowl selection, yet had to wait over a year to get the deal done since his last negotiation, which was July 27th, 2018. He had two years and $21 million left on his previous contract, and despite not having a deal done, he still showed up to training camp on time, but did not play in the preseason. Although, sources close to the team said that him sitting the preseason had nothing to do with his contract.
The Falcons' star is the fastest wide receiver to reach 10,000 receiving yards, doing so in 103 career NFL games. He also holds eight other franchise records, as he enters 2019 with five straight seasons of at least 80 catches and 1,400 receiving yards. He is also on pace to break yet another franchise record, as his 10,731 receiving yards is 133 shy of passing Roddy White for the most in Falcons history. The former sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft now joins his quarterback, Matt Ryan, who signed a five-year, $150 million contract last summer. Those two can now focus returning to the Super Bowl to avenge their debacle against the New England Patriots.
