Desperate teams do desperate things. That is often the law of professional sports. Now, whether the Chicago Bears are desperate regarding their wide receiver situation is up for debate. GM Ryan Poles didn’t come across as somebody feeling any pressure to upgrade the position after his moves in March and April. He believes the team has an array of fast and versatile talents. Most national media outlets disagree. That is why topics like Julio Jones come up.
The seven-time Pro Bowler remains a free agent as training camps prepare to kick off later this month. It is crazy to think about, considering he’s only 33 years old. Nobody would say he’s too over the hill when A.J. Green, who is older, had over 800 yards last season. Jones is destined for the Hall of Fame after he retires. He should still have at least one more good year in him, and Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report thinks it should be in Chicago.
“Julio Jones isn’t the same target he once was. He’s now 33 years old, hasn’t posted a 1,000-yard season since 2019 and the cumulation of injuries have limited his once-dominant skill set. He’s coming off the worst season of his career with 31 receptions for 434 yards in 10 games while dealing with a balky hamstring.
The reasons why he remains on the free-agent market provide the Bears with an opportunity to sign the two-time NFL receiving yardage leader.
For Jones, Chicago may not be the most enticing landing spot, since it is not considered a potential contender this season. However, the franchise has the fifth-most available salary-cap space, and Jones would have a chance to be a top-two target within the offense.”
Julio Jones is a fun thought but unrealistic.
There is no question a healthy Jones would be an immediate upgrade for the Bears’ passing attack. His size, speed, and hands have confounded defenses for a decade. The problem isn’t whether the team can use him. It is more that the two sides may not see the point of such a connection. Jones is at a stage in his career where he’s trying to win that elusive Super Bowl ring before he is forced to retire. He won’t want to waste a precious season on a team that is probably three years away from getting back into the title picture.
From the Bears’ perspective, Julio Jones doesn’t fit Poles’s approach this off-season. He has targeted younger guys who are cheap and come with decent health histories. Jones doesn’t fit any of those criteria. He’d be five years older than the oldest receiver on the roster. It is a safe bet he’d want a considerable contract number. He made over $17 million in 2021. There is no way Poles is paying anywhere close to that. Not even a third of it.
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It isn’t likely Jones would play in Chicago for any reason other than money. Thus the idea of the two sides coming together is unrealistic.
