Atlanta is taking trade calls on superstar wide receiver Julio Jones, according to the MMQB and later confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro, has been one of the game’s premier players since being drafted sixth overall in 2011. He is coming off a down year, however, logging 51 catches and 771 yards in nine games played as injuries plagued his 2020 season. It was his first season with under 1,394 yards since 2013 (also an injury-marred year).

Rapoport reported that the trade cannot be made official before June 1 due to cap constraints, but the team could still agree to a trade in principle before that date as they try to handle their messy cap situation.

The Falcons currently have less than a million dollars in cap space, according to Over The Cap, and that is before they draft and pay their entire rookie class. Atlanta will have to make a move at some point, and while Jones is one of their best and most popular players, his cap hit is over $23 million in 2021. He is also 32 years old, and the Falcons have another star wide receiver in Calvin Ridley.

After June 1, Jones’ cap hit can be spread out over two seasons, which is why the trade would certainly be executed after that. The MMQB reported that the Falcons would be looking for a first-round pick if they were to move their future Hall of Famer.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Jeremy Layton