June 2nd marks the unofficial start of the Julio Jones Sweepstakes. Thanks to the structure of his current contract, the Falcons can now split Jones’ dead money over two seasons, which makes managing the cap significantly easier. According to the latest NFL rumors, the Seattle Seahawks are the new favorites to land Julio Jones, while New England’s odds are going down by the wayside. In other news, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is reportedly thrilled with Dak Prescott’s recovery from a fractured ankle.
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NFL Rumors: Julio Jones, Dak Prescott, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks Emerge As Julio Jones Favorite
Coming out of relative obscurity, the Seattle Seahawks are now reportedly the favorites to land superstar wide receiver Julio Jones, according to PointsBet. After voicing complaints at the beginning of the offseason, Seattle seems to be doing everything possible to keep Russell Wilson happy. The team already improved the offensive line in free agency and extended Tyler Lockett, but adding Jones to the mix would just be the icing on the cake.
While the Seahawks may be the favorites, it’s still anyone’s game. Seattle currently has +225 odds to land the receiver, while the Titans are at +250. Following them are the Eagles at +275 and the Ravens and 49ers at +300. The Titans, Ravens, and 49ers have all been linked to Jones for quite some time, while the Eagles are a relatively new addition to the bunch.
One thing to note is that the Patriots have fallen down to the sixth-most likely team to acquire the receiver. The betting favorites for quite some time, it appears as though Jones’ price tag is too high for New England. Multiple rumors suggest the Patriots final offer is a second-round pick and a player, and Bill Belichick isn’t one to overspend on a single player (Mohamed Sanu notwithstanding). Reading between the lines, it’s possible that other teams are willing to offer a first-round pick for Julio Jones.
Mike McCarthy: Dak Prescott “Off to A Good Start”
Dak Prescott was on pace to shatter just about every passing record early in the 2020 season. Through five full games, the quarterback was on pace to finish the season with a staggering 6,760 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Unfortunately, an ankle injury limited him to just six games and stopped what could have been a historic season.
Fortunately, Prescott appears to be well on his way to a full recovery. The quarterback has participated in the first two days of OTA’s, albeit in a limited capacity. Head coach Mike McCarthy noted that he and Prescott were both “excited” to see the quarterback throwing behind an offensive line for the first time since Week 6. McCarthy also noted that Prescott has been working on his recovery at team headquarters throughout the offseason.
Dak Prescott at today’s OTA practice
(Video: @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/FbJTRUSrQn
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 25, 2021
Prescott should be back to normal by the start of the regular season, which is great news for the Dallas Cowboys. After investing heavily in the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys have to feel good about their odds of taking home the division title. Prescott is easily the best quarterback in the NFC East, and the supporting cast of Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup is one of the best in the league. If Prescott can return to form and the defense plays up to their talent, this unit could be one of the best in football.
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