After months of quiet negotiations, the Falcons and receiver Julio Jones finally are close to a new contract extension, according to multiple reports.
Atlanta and its star receiver are working out the details on a three-year deal worth a reported $66 million.
Falcons, WR Julio Jones finalizing three-year extension worth roughly $66M, making him the league's highest-paid WR. (via @TomPelissero + @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/1TIQQMMB9g
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2019
The #Falcons and star WR Julio Jones are finalizing a multi-year extension that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, per league sources. Minor issues still to work out, but should be done today.💰💰💰
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 7, 2019
Jones, 30, and the team had been in negotiation talks since before last season when Jones held out of training camp. The Falcons allocated some of his money from this season to give him a pay boost for 2018 with the understanding that he would get a revamped extension in 2019.
Just hours before the Falcons are to open the season against the Vikings in Minnesota, the deal is finally coming together. According to NFL Network, Atlanta restructured tackle Jake Matthews and safety Ricardo Allen's contracts to make $5 million in salary cap space for Jones.
Specifically, the #Falcons cleared $5 million of cap space on these simple restructures. https://t.co/WGKonyl01z
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 4, 2019
Despite the length of time it took for the contract to fall into place, Jones previously said he knew a deal would be done because he said team owner Arthur Blank's word was "golden." Blank also expressed several times that he wanted Jones to be a "Falcon for life."
Before the extension, Jones was set to earn $9.6 million in 2019 and had two years left on the five-year deal worth $71 million he signed in 2015.
Last season, he had 113 catches for a league-leading 1,677 receiving yards to go with eight touchdowns.