Julio Jones Won't Wait for Michael Thomas Amid Falcons Contract Negotiations

Star wideout Julio Jones is not looking for the market to set itself as he works toward an extension with the Atlanta Falcons.

"I'm not waiting on Michael Thomas. I'm not waiting on Amari Cooper," Jones told reporters Tuesday, via ESPN's Vaughn McClure. "It's just us going back and forth right now negotiating. That's it."

Jones is coming off a season in which he hauled in 113 catches for an NFL-best 1,677 yards and eight touchdowns. It marked his fifth consecutive season with 1,400-plus yards.

The six-time Pro Bowler has led the league in yards per game in three of the last four seasons, including last year when he posted 104.8 yards per contest. He has managed 96.7 yards per game through his first eight years.

Numbers like that put Jones among the most productive receivers in the NFL. However, he currently finds himself behind a number of his fellow wideouts in terms of average annual value. At $14.25 million per season, Jones finds himself well behind the top AAV (Odell Beckham Jr., $18 million) at his position.

Jones has two years and $21 million in base salary remaining on his current deal. He agreed to a revised contract in July 2018.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter in March that the two sides had been engaged in "really good conversations" about an extension. Jones recently said on The Bow Tie Chronicles that negotiations are in a "great place."

This comes after he previously downplayed any concern over the situation.

"Nah, man, as far as the contract thing, (owner) Mr. (Arthur) Blank has spoken," Jones said of negotiations in June, per Ledbetter. "At the end of the day, his word is gold. He said they are going to get something done between them and my agency. As far as me, I just hold up my end and stay ready."

The longer negotiations draw out, the more beneficial it could be for Jones. Thomas, Cooper and the Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green are among the other star receivers currently looking for extensions. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported last week Thomas is seeking an AAV of $20 million in a new deal.