Tennessee Titans wide receiver Julio Jones was one of the biggest stars to change teams during the 2021 NFL offseason.
He was dealt away in late May from the only team he has ever known, the Atlanta Falcons.
The Titans are hoping that the acquisition of the two-time All-Pro will help catapult them to the next level of a suddenly ultra-competitive AFC.
The 32-year-old wide receiver is hopeful that he has one or two more elite years left to contribute in order to win his first Super Bowl ring.
Jones is largely well liked around the league, and doesn’t fall into the high maintenance category that some of his fellow receivers do.
But is he overrated?
We’ll take a closer look at whether the current Titans pass catcher figures to make the type of difference Tennessee is hoping for.
Please excuse my language when I say this “y’all done F*cked up “ pic.twitter.com/TbI4SrkTVp
— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) June 6, 2021
Julio Jones Is Definitely Overrated
At this point, Jones has been in the league for 10 seasons.
His body of work has already been defined, and his resume doesn’t lend itself to consistent winning.
To be fair, receivers can’t throw themselves the ball, but if Jones was truly that special, the Falcons would’ve done better than miss the playoffs in six out of his 10 years there.
While his numbers most seasons are appealing to the naked eye, his presence on the field has not opened up teammates for consistent play making opportunities that would help Atlanta win games.
Additionally, Jones’ 2020 campaign left a lot to be desired.
He only played in nine games last year, and could not seem to get over a nagging hamstring injury for much of the campaign.
Give Jones credit for trying to battle through the ailment to get back on to the field, but it is a little worrisome that his most recent sample size of playing time has been marred by injury.
Tennessee will need to take a conservative approach in training camp to ensure he doesn’t suffer any soft tissue injuries before the regular season commences.
Julio Jones Is A Legitimate Superstar
There are very few players who have consistently put up the level of production that Jones has in the last decade.
Prior to last season, he had at least 1,000 yards receiving in each of the six prior years.
In those six seasons, Jones also missed four games in total, showing that he would consistently play for the majority of his career.
Despite being hampered by the hamstring injury in 2020, Jones posted his best yards per catch figure in the last three years, showing that his ability to get separation is still elite.
It was briefly alluded to above, but Jones is one of the rare ego-less stars we’ve had in the league during the social media era.
Despite being the clear cut number one option with the Falcons, Jones was never embroiled in controversies stemming from his lack of opportunities to make plays.
The Titans are getting a player who will certainly catch the attention of opposing defenses, but won’t blow up emotionally if the ball isn’t coming to him early and often.
That level of professionalism boosts Jones’ case as a valuable piece to a franchise and a locker room.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 6, 2021
Verdict: Jones Is Still A Star, But We’ll Keep A Close Eye On Him In 2021
Tennessee’s offense figures to be greatly improved by the trade for Jones, and there’s no reason to think that his presence won’t free up A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry for even greater production.
The recent injuries are a bit of a red flag, but he’s largely been durable.
The Titans will probably manage his reps throughout practice each week to ensure he’s ready to go on game day.
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