During an interview on NFL Network on Thursday night prior to the Hall of Fame Game, Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff made his intentions very clear when it comes to Julio Jones and the ongoing contract negotiations with the star receiver.
"We want Julio here for the rest of his career," Dimitroff said. "We're not worried about the timeframe of it."
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On Wednesday, the New Orleans Saints made receiver Michael Thomas the highest-paid wideout in history when they gave him a five-year, $100 million extension with $61 million in guaranteed.
"And again, where we approach it with Julio, we look at everything, of course," Dimitroff said. "We believe that he should be the highest-paid player – sorry, I did not say player – the highest-paid receiver in the league. And I know he believes that. It's just how we're going to approach this and how we're going to get it done. I believe it's right around the corner but I don't want know when it is."
Even though Jones has yet to sign a new deal – something that Dimitroff said is a top priority this offseason – the Falcons' star has been adamant about not holding out or missing any practice time. Thomas, if you recall, held out before signing his deal.
"I'm not going to hold out; I'm not going to do any of that stuff," Jones said during an interview with TMZ.
Jones, who has two years remaining on his current deal, has said multiple times since the end of the season that he isn't concerned about the ongoing contract negotiations. During a recent interview, Jones said that "there's no stress on my end. I'm not thinking about it."
"We know what Julio is in this league," Dimitroff said. "We have a very good idea of approximately where he's going to be, which I won't share specifically. The good thing is we've never been held by our owner to be limiting someone and we're very good with our football players here. We feel very proud of how we approach it."
Take a look at some of the best Falcons fits as the team heads to Canton to take on the Broncos Thursday night to kick off the 2019 season in the Hall of Fame game.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones #11 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant #21 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley #18 and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu #12 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Ito Smith #25 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Chris Odom #91, tight end Alex Gray #89, and defensive back Rashard Causey #32 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Chris Odom #91, tight end Alex Gray #89, and defensive back Rashard Causey #32 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Matt Gono #73 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Tre' Crawford #49 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Shawn Bane #16 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons center Chandler Miller #61 and offensive guard Sean Harlow #64 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Ryan Neal #40 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Jordan Miller #28 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Jason Thompson #35 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Jason Thompson #35 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper #81 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive guard John Wetzel #73 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Kendall Sheffield #20 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Jason Thompson #35 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley #18 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Foye Oluokun #54 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Dieugot Joseph #67 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips #46 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Dieugot Joseph #67 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive guard James Carpenter #77 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Deadrin Senat #94 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Sharrod Neasman #41 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Allen Bailey #93 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Austin Larkin #62 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Sharrod Neasman #41 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive guard James Carpenter #77 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn #99 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley #44 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy #14 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons center Wes Schweitzer #71 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley #44 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett #97 (Photo by Michael Benford/Atlanta Falcons)
