Atlanta Falcons Rumors: Roddy White Wants Team To Give Julio Jones New Contract

Atlanta Falcons rumors have Roddy White speaking up for Julio Jones. The Falcons have been blessed to have White and Jones as the core of its receiving threat, which is why one of the receivers wants to make sure it lasts for year to come. A report from CBS Sports on Sunday (July 19) reveals that Jones is entering the final year of his current contract. This has White worried that he could go to free agency if the franchise doesn’t agree to an extension soon.

Last year with the Falcons, Jones caught 104 passes for 1,593 yards and six touchdowns. He was one of the favorite targets of quarterback Matt Ryan and again was given Pro Bowl honors for his contributions. It was, by far, the best season that Jones has had in the NFL, likely increasing the value of the next contract he will receive. At just 26-years-old, it is also clear that he is going to get a payday that puts him among the five highest paid receivers in the game. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the expense just went up with the $70 million Dez Bryant got from the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s easy to understand why Roddy White is speaking publicly about his teammate, especially since his job gets easier with Jones commanding a lot of attention on the other side of the ball. Despite his importance to the team, there have also been very few Atlanta Falcons rumors about Julio Jones during the NFL offseason. It could mean that a deal is getting worked on behind the scenes in an effort to keep the media from dictating terms.

As for what White has had to say, he probably has a lot of Falcons fans agreeing with his sentiment.

“If I was the GM, I would get a deal done with Julio now. I want to make sure he’s paid. That’s my guy. The more they wait, the more it’s going to cost them. It’s important that (Julio) feels comfortable.”

It’s not a question of “if” Julio Jones gets an extension from the Falcons, it is really only a question of “when” it is going to take place. The team doesn’t have enough talent to lose him to free agency and certainly has the money under the salary cap to make it happen. Though there are always questions about how the team will do during the next NFL season, it could be far worse if a contract extension isn’t in place. Roddy White is entirely correct in the need to lock him up soon and that makes these Atlanta Falcons rumors worth paying attention to.

[Image Source: Streeter Lecka/Getty Image]