Field Yates expects motivated bounce back from Julio Jones

After injuries plagued his 2020 season, Julio Jones is hungry to return this season, now as a member of the Tennessee Titans. The Atlanta Falcons traded the star wide receiver to Tennessee in the offseason after an impressive decade-long run with Atlanta.

Jones is one of the NFL’s best WRs when healthy

Excluding last season, Jones totaled at least 1,394 receiving yards in every season since 2014. He has proven to be an elite NFL wide receiver throughout his professional career. As he enters his age-32 season, Jones is looking to prove that he has plenty left in the tank. Jones joins a strong Titans offense, led by running back Derrick Henry. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill now has another weapon to throw to in Jones next to A.J. Brown.

ESPN NFL insider Field Yates thinks that Jones is going to return to his status as an elite wide receiver this season. Despite injuries recently hindering him, Yates said that Jones is going to be incredibly motivated.

“Julio Jones, as we talked about, missed seven games last year in total,” Yates said on ESPN’s Fantasy Focus Football podcast. “I think Julio Jones is going to be motivated this season to prove to people there is a lot more gas left in the tank. It did not take long after Julio Jones trade rumblings begam, which they weren’t even rumblings. General manager Terry Fontenot acknowledged it. He acknowledged at the draft, “Yeah, we’ve taken calls on Julio Jones because our cap situation is very bleak right now.’ It did not take long for the naysayers to come out.”

The trade market for Jones was nearly nonexistent

Despite his status as one of the NFL’s best receivers, Jones did not have much of a trade market. In his career, Jones has hauled in 848 receptions on 1,326 targets for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns. Despite his impressive numbers, teams were hesitant to pay a premium price for a 32-year-old receiver.

“Julio Jones had a very, very tepid market,” Yates said. “People were like, ‘Why has nobody traded for Julio freaking Jones?’ Three years, $37.5 million still owed to this guy? That’s pretty good, that’s what Corey Davis got to sign with the Jets. Wouldn’t you prefer Julio Jones for the next three years? There was not a huge market. As we know, the Falcons were chided for the return. Just a second-round pick for Julio Jones and a pick swap? There’s no way.”

Yates believes that all of the noise from the offseason will give Jones a chip on his shoulder. The wideout is going to be looking to prove that he is better than what his market showed.

“I think all of that is going to register with Julio Jones,” Yates said. “I’m not saying he wasn’t playing with absolute ferocity with Atlanta over the past couple of years. But it’s just different when the stakes are raised. Now you’ve been doubted, now you have a chance to win big. It wouldn’t surprise me if we have a bounce back season from Julio Jones. I think his motivation is going to be so sky-high, that nothing is going to slow him down.”