With Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot confirming he's listening to trade offers on star wide receiver Julio Jones, naturally, Buffalo Bills fans would want to wonder if Brandon Beane should or could make a deal to acquire the seven-time Pro Bowler.
Come to find out, it's not just Bills fans that are thinking about it. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith argued Tuesday morning on "First Take" the Bills should make the move to acquire Jones.
Jones is, arguably, one of the best receivers in NFL history. There's even a good chance that he's still one of the best.
However, 2020 could have been the beginning of the end for Jones. He missed seven games with a Grade 2 hamstring strain last season. A team trading for him has to hope that his body isn't going to start to breakdown.
In the nine games he played, Jones averaged 85.7 yards per-game, his lowest total since his second year in the league. Still great production, but not the crazy good numbers we're used to seeing from Jones.
Has he taken a step back?
Whether or not Jones' decline has begun at 32-years-old, the bigger issue is Jones doesn't solve anything for the Bills, plus he costs a lot of money.
The Bills have a long-term need at wide receiver. Emmanuel Sanders is 34 and on a one-year deal. Cole Beasley is 32 and could be a cap casualty in 2022. Who's catching passes from quarterback Josh Allen in 2022, opposite Stefon Diggs?
Adding another 30-plus-year-old receiver does not answer that question.
If the Bills had not signed Sanders, trading for Jones would be a more realistic idea. The upgrade from Sanders to Jones isn't significant enough to divert valuable assets to this cause.
Spotrac currently lists the Bills as having roughly $3.93 million in cap space. That's without an estimated $6.7 million coming for draft picks.
How are they fitting Julio Jones in at $15 million? You're likely going to hate it.
Releasing Jerry Hughes creates about $6 million in space, cutting Mario Addison gets the Bills $4 million, and letting Cole Beasley go is another $4 million.
With all of those cuts, the Bills can find their way to affording Jones. I don't see another path to fitting Jones' contract into the picture.
So, not only are you trading whatever you need to give Atlanta to acquire Jones, you're also saying goodbye to your best two defensive ends, and one of the best weapons on your offense.
It doesn't make sense for the Bills long-term. It doesn't make sense for the Bills on the salary cap. Trading for Jones just does not make sense for the Bills.