PFF Predicts Julio Jones Contract if Green Bay Packers are Interested

This offseason, the Green Bay Packers signed Sammy Watkins in free agency while also adding Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure in the draft, but the wide receiver position still remains a question mark.

However, if Brian Gutekunst is interested in still trying to upgrade the position, there is still one big fish left on the free agent market in Julio Jones.

Since he was traded to Tennessee, Jones has battled injuries, appearing in only 19 games over the last two seasons. With that said, while not his once dominant self anymore, he was still effective when on the field.

According to PFF ($$), in 11 games last season, Jones averaged 13.4 yards per catch while catching nearly 70% of his 53 targets and averaging 1.84 yards per route run, which ranked 25th among all receivers. If healthy, Jones could be that go-to option that the Packers appear to be missing at this time.

So if the Green Bay Packers are interested in Jones, what could that contract look like?

Well, in an article by Brad Spielberger of PFF, he projected that Jones signs a one-year deal worth $10 million fully guaranteed. It’s also worth noting that of the four teams listed as a potential fit, Brad did not have the Packers as one of them.

And despite the uncertainty that surrounds the receiver position in Green Bay, I don’t believe that the Packers will actively pursue Jones.

There are a few reasons, with the first being the salary cap. While the Packers have just over $17 million in cap space currently, according to Over the Cap, there are other expenses not accounted for in that figure.

As Ken Ingalls notes in his salary cap projection, the cost of the practice squad will account for $3.5 million in cap space. The 52nd and 53rd players on the roster, which aren’t accounted for above, will be another $1.65 million in cap space–not to mention that Christian Watson still hasn’t been signed.

Roughly another $1 million will go towards in-season elevations from the practice squad to the active roster, along with another $1.93 million for potential per game bonuses that could be earned. And ideally, the Packers will want at least $5 million in available cap space heading into the season so that they can make additions, such as signing Rasul Douglas or Whitney Mercilus.

Those upcoming expenses coupled with Jones’ projected $10 million deal, which would all have to be recognized in 2022 since it is fully guaranteed — that is unless the Packers choose to use void years — add up to more than the $17 million in available cap space.

When it comes to other cap creating moves that are available, the Packers are pretty close to being tapped out—although once Allen Lazard signs his RFA tender, Green Bay could add voided years to lower his cap hit in 2022. But that isn’t going to create enough savings to significantly change the figures above.

But beyond the financials, this is actually a crowded wide receiver room, even with the question marks. Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Amari Rodgers, and as long as he is healthy, Sammy Watkins are all going to be on this Packers team–which means six roster spots are already accounted for, and that doesn’t include Samori Toure, Juwann Winfree or Malik Taylor.

Now, that doesn’t mean that Green Bay can’t or won’t keep seven receivers on the roster, but it is something that they haven’t done under Matt LaFleur. In a recent article, I dove deeper into the decision behind keeping six or seven receivers.

As I’ve said before, Gutey has surprised me on several occasions before, so certainly anything can happen–and my guess is that if he does add to the receiver room, whether it be Jones or someone else, it will be later on this summer after LaFleur and Co. get a chance to see how the receivers on the roster perform.

With that said, for the reasons already mentioned — the salary cap and the current makeup of the position — I don’t see the Green Bay Packers adding Jones, or at least not at that projected contract amount.