Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones confirmed Tuesday that his agent Jimmy Sexton is in town discussing his contract extension with the team.
“Yeah, my agent is in town,” Jones said. “The is nothing really for me to report. Just front-office business with my agent Jimmy Sexton.”
Jones didn’t know if a deal was imminent.
“I didn’t put (any) timeline on it,” Jones said. “For me, I just do what I need to do to stay ready.”
Jones didn’t know if they would call him to come sign the deal.
“I don’t know how that happens,” Jones said. “You usually just go in there in there and sign. There’s really nothing to it.”
Jones said he didn’t have his favorite ink pen ready for the occasion.
“Nah, nah,” Jones said. “You just need to put some ink on the paper.”
The Falcons have been working on an extension for the six-time Pro Bowl selection, who’s on the verge of breaking the team’s all-time yards receiving mark.
The wide receiver market shifted when the Saints signed Michael Thomas to a five-year, $96.25 million deal that has the potential to surpass the $100 million mark based on performance bonuses on the back end of the contract.
Thomas, a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2016, is 26. He’s had three 1,000 yard seasons to start his career and was named to two Pro Bowl teams and was All-Pro last season.
Jones’ age probably will be a factor as it wouldn’t be prudent for the Falcons to have Jones on the books at age 34, 35 and 36 with a big-money deal. Former Falcons great Roddy White played until he was 34.
Several experts projected that Jones' deal would be a three-year deal, and worth $51.8 million, with $33 million guaranteed at signing, according to Spotrac.
The Falcons agreed to improve Jones' contract after it was adjusted July 27, 2018.
Jones’ deal has two years remaining, with the dynamic receiver scheduled to make $9.6 million in 2019 and $11.4 million in 2020.
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