How Julio Jones Trade, Contract Impacts Titans' Salary Cap, Depth Chart

The Tennessee Titans have reportedly pulled off a blockbuster trade for Julio Jones.

The Titans agreed to send a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round selection exchange for the future Hall of Famer and a 2023 sixth-round pick. Jones had requested a trade from Atlanta earlier this offseason after playing 10 seasons with the franchise.

Terms of the deal have yet to be finalized, and the Titans will have to create some cap space to add Jones' $15.3 million base salary. The Titans are currently $3.4 million under the cap. 

Here is how the Titans depth chart will look after the trade is completed:

QB: Ryan Tannehill / Logan Woodside / DeShone Kizer
RB: Derrick Henry / Jeremy McNichols / Khari Blasingame / Darrynton Evans / Brian Hill / Mekhi Sargent
WR: AJ Brown / Julio Jones / Josh Reynolds / Nick Westbrook-Ikhine / Chester Rogers / Cameron Batson / Mason Kinsey / Dez Fitzpatrick / Cody Hollister / Fred Brown / Marcus Johnson / Racey McMath / Kalija Lipscomb

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The math behind getting Jones under the cap should be pretty easy. Contracts for Taylor Lewan, Rodger Saffold and Ben Jones are highly reworkable, and the Titans could choose to extend them or renegotiate those deals to convert their base salaries into bonuses. 

Tennessee could also choose to give Jones' contract the same treatment. He's due a $15.3 million fully guaranteed salary and $11.5 million in 2022, so they could work out an extension with voidable years to spread out the guarantees. However, Jones is already 32 with a decade of NFL experience under his belt. The Titans may prefer to at least see how the 2021 season plays out with Jones under his current deal before working out any longer-term arrangement.

Odds are we'll see the deals of Lewan and Jones reworked over the next 24 to 48 hours before the deal is complete.