logo
Falcons miss out on All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011 NFL redraft

Falcons miss out on All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011 NFL redraft

Yahoo22-06-2025
Two moves have really defined the Atlanta Falcons over the last two decades. The first move was selecting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan with the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft. Three years later, the Falcons traded up to the sixth overall slot in the 2011 draft to select Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.
Ryan and Jones formed one of the most dynamic duos in NFL history. Both players retired as Atlanta's franchise statistical leaders at their respective positions. Jones is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while Ryan has a decent chance to be voted into the league' s most exclusive club.
Advertisement
What would have happened if the Falcons never drafted Jones back in 2011? In Pro Football Focus' 2011 NFL redraft, the seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver didn't even make it out of the top five. So instead of adding the most productive receiver in franchise history, the Falcons stayed at pick No. 27 and drafted cornerback Jimmy Smith.
Smith's size and man-to-man ability were valuable assets during his 11-year career in Baltimore. He recorded an 81.5 PFF coverage grade and hauled in 14 regular-season interceptions and one postseason pick across that span. Smith also played very well on a small workload in Super Bowl 47, forcing two incompletions and earning a 92.7 PFF coverage grade. -- PFF's Max Chadwick, Dalton Wasserman and Trevor Sikkema
Smith spent his entire career in Baltimore, and despite not making a Pro Bowl, he was a dependable starter that helped the Ravens secure the Super Bowl in 2013. The former Colorado defensive back appeared in 128 games (90 starts), recording 14 interceptions and 74 passes defended.
The 2011 redraft saw Jones selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the fourth overall pick. The Bengals originally took wide receiver A.J. Green at this spot, but PFF felt Jones was the better players throughout his NFL career.
There was a big debate heading into the 2011 NFL Draft over whether A.J. Green or Julio Jones was the top wide receiver prospect. The Bengals ultimately picked Green, who went on to have an excellent career in Cincinnati. However, Jones ended up being the better player. The two-time first-team All-Pro recorded a career 94.7 PFF overall grade and was the second-most-valuable receiver across his 13 seasons, according to PFF WAR. -- PFF's Max Chadwick, Dalton Wasserman and Trevor Sikkema
The Falcons still landed a quality player in PFF's redraft scenario, however, it's hard to imagine Ryan ever reaching his MVP potential without Jones as his top weapon. While Atlanta didn't capture the Super Bowl, the team got as close as humanly possible during the 2016 NFL season.
Advertisement
As the team moves into 2025, a new duo has emerged. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Drake London will look to get the Falcons back to the playoffs for the first time since Ryan and Jones departed.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons miss out on WR Julio Jones in 2011 NFL redraft
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Breaking down the NFLPA drama, Terry McLaurin holds out & biggest training camp questions
Breaking down the NFLPA drama, Terry McLaurin holds out & biggest training camp questions

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Breaking down the NFLPA drama, Terry McLaurin holds out & biggest training camp questions

Subscribe to Football 301 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube What are our biggest questions as training camps begin? Yahoo Sports' Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald drop the burning questions on their minds about J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings, the Browns four-way QB battle and more. But first, they discuss some news around the league, including the latest developments in the NFLPA scandal. Later in the show, the guys take a look at some looming contract disputes. How big of an effect will Terry McLaurin's holdout have on Jayden Daniels? We're tackling that and more on today's show! (1:54) Breaking down the NFLPA scandal (11:20) Latest contract extensions (24:45) Do these contract disputes really matter? (47:48) Biggest training camp questions 🖥️

Messi, Alba risk ban after MLS All-Star game withdrawal
Messi, Alba risk ban after MLS All-Star game withdrawal

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Messi, Alba risk ban after MLS All-Star game withdrawal

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba could face a suspension after withdrawing from Major League Soccer's All-Star game. Argentina superstar Messi and Alba had been due to start for a combined MLS team which will face a squad representing Mexico's Liga-MX in Austin later Wednesday. However a league source said Inter Miami had notified officials on Wednesday that both Messi and Alba had been pulled from the event. Under MLS rules, both Messi and Alba could be given a one-game suspension unless they have a valid reason for the withdrawal, such as an injury. A league source told AFP however no decision on possible disciplinary action would be taken until MLS officials had spoken to Inter Miami to confirm the circumstances of the withdrawal. The duo's participation in Wednesday's mid-season exhibition game had been under a cloud after Miami coach Javier Mascherano indicated at the weekend he wanted Messi and Alba to rest. "The players are called up. I'd prefer they rest, but it's not my decision," Mascherano said. "I know how important the All-Star Game is, and as far as I know, there's no decision from the club - everything continues as normal." Both Messi, 38, and Alba, 36, have a history of recent injury problems while Inter Miami has faced a gruelling schedule which included participation in the recent FIFA Club World Cup. rcw/ea

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store