Julio Jones becomes the highest paid WR in the NFL

Julio Jones had two years left on his current contract with the Falcons, but requested an extension since there were basically no guarantees in the deal past this season. He has always maintained a desire to stay with Atlanta for his entire career, and the two sides took a major step in that direction.

On Saturday, Jones’ shiny new deal is coming to fruition the wide receiver and Falcons are finalizing an extension that is expected to be a three-year, $66 million deal, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport are reporting, per league sources. Rapoport adds there are a “few big conversations left to finalize.” The $22 million per season would make Jones the highest-paid receiver in the game.

The $22 million annual value surpasses the $20 million per year deal that Michael Thomas just signed with the New Orleans Saints. Another Alabama great, Amari Cooper, is in the last year of his deal with the Dallas Cowboys and these deals will go a long way toward setting his market as well.

Congratulations to Julio.

Roll Tide.