Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Breer: Falcons discussed Julio Jones trade with 49ers, other NFC West teams
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The Atlanta Falcons were really trying to move Julio Jones' salary. Eventually, they were able to strike a deal with the Tennessee Titans for the veteran receiver. That was after trying to gauge interest with several others.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that the
Falcons reached out to all four NFC West teams, which, of course, includes the San Francisco 49ers (h/t to
Josh Schrock of NBC Sports). While it has been reported that there was some interest from head coach Kyle Shanahan and company, Breer is reporting that Atlanta never received a real offer from any team within the division.
Of course, the Falcons may have been more interested in trading Jones to the AFC and may have been looking for more from any interested NFC teams. While the 49ers lack a first-round pick until 2024, Shanahan, who worked two seasons (2015-16) with Jones in Atlanta, at least gave the impression that he would have liked to work with the wideout again.
Jones didn't land with the 49ers. But the good news is that he didn't land with a division rival.
"It would have been a hell of a deal, but my second-favorite choice is him being in the AFC,"
Shanahan said on Sunday from the Sonoma Raceway. "... Number one, him not being in our division is a huge deal. The AFC is the second favorite. But Julio's the man."
The comments seem to indicate that Shanahan was at least interested in the possibility of adding Jones. However, the lack of first-round picks over the next two drafts may have San Francisco leaning toward holding onto as much of its more valuable draft capital as possible.
Jones' salary may have also been an issue. Some salary-cap maneuvering may have made the addition possible, but the receiver is due $38.3 million in base salary over the next three years.
Breer adds that the Falcons also engaged in discussions with the Baltimore Ravens. The New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders reportedly "never showed real interest" in trading for Jones.
And for those curious about the report that the Falcons had received an offer that included a first-round pick, Breer states that was not necessarily the case.
"No first-round pick was ever offered," wrote Breer. "And really, only once did a future 1 come up, and that was as part of a pick swap—so it wouldn't have been a clean 1—and never got to the point where the team in question actually made an offer."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
Insider provides clarity on 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors
A questionable rumor surfaced on Wednesday regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers' interest in San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein reported that the AFC team was seemingly confident they could pull off a trade for Aiyuk.
However, the credibility of this report comes into question due to the assertion that the Steelers believe they could acquire Aiyuk at a bargain price, possibly in exchange for a second-round draft pick and a late-round selection.
RELATED: Steelers believe they can acquire Aiyuk at a
Why one analyst is worried for Brock Purdy if 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
"I
Could the 49ers trade up in the draft for a top tackle?
The San Francisco 49ers are likely hoping that a top offensive lineman drops to them at No. 31 in the first round of this month's draft. Fans would like to see the team add someone to compete with Colton McKivitz for the right tackle spot and potentially take over for Trent Williams when the future Hall of Famer decides to retire.
Having two studs bookending the offensive line would go a long way in protecting franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. While tackle may be the first-round target, depending on how the first 30 selections play out, San Francisco might have to trade up to get a genuinely impactful
