Falcons' Julio Jones an 'Avatar,' NFL Coordinator Says: 'There's Only 1 of Him'

Paul KasabianSenior ContributorJuly 10, 2020

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

An ESPN poll that asked 50 NFL coaches, executives and players their top 10 choices for each NFL position in 2020 placed Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones first on the wideout list.

Get Up @GetUpESPN
In a poll conducted with 50 NFL executives, scouts and players, ESPN ranked the top 10 wide receivers for this upcoming season. https://t.co/AnAXYtAHxJ

One NFL coordinator's thought process included a unique description of Jones' game.

"He's an avatar," the coach said per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "There's only one of him."

The 6'3", 220-pound Jones has amassed no fewer than 1,394 receiving yards in each of his last six seasons, including a career-high (and NFL-high) 1,871 in 2015. He snagged an NFL-best 136 passes that year as well.

Jones has led the league in receiving yards per game three times and yards from scrimmage once during his nine-year career, all of which has been in Atlanta.

Jones has received praise from some of the game's all-time greatest players, including Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald:

Yardbarker @yardbarker
Larry Fitzgerald has mad respect for Julio Jones ✊ ‘He's the best I've ever seen’ https://t.co/ccxa1eLF8K

The stats supporting Jones' case as the game's best wideout are numerous, with a few examples below:

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Ryan Michael 🏈 @theryanmichael
Since 2013: #JulioJones has, get this, AVERAGED 110 receptions for 1,644 yards every 16 games. That is more than Randy Moss’ career high of 1,632 in 2003. That’s what Julio has AVERAGED, every year, for nearly a decade. Every compliment you’ve heard has underrated him. ✈️ https://t.co/bYIztPAQBo

PFF Fantasy Football @PFF_Fantasy
Most games with 5+ catches and 50+ receiving yards since 2018: ◻️ DeAndre Hopkins (25) ◻️ Julio Jones (25) ◻️ Travis Kelce (24) ◻️ Keenan Allen (23) ◻️ Michael Thomas (23) ◻️ George Kittle (22) ◻️ Robert Woods (21) ◻️ Davante Adams (20) https://t.co/p60zXZIgno

NFL Stats @NFL_Stats
Most receiving YPG in a season (min. 14 games played) Charley Hennigan - 124.7 Calvin Johnson - 122.8 Josh Gordon - 117.6 Julio Jones - 116.9 Jerry Rice - 115.5 Antonio Brown - 114.6 Lance Alworth - 114.4 Isaac Bruce - 111.3 Charley Hennigan - 110.4 Antonio Brown - 109.5

Jones edged New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who set an NFL record with 149 receptions last season, for the No. 1 spot. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro, took third.

The ex-Alabama star, who went sixth overall in the 2011 NFL draft, will look to have his seventh consecutive 1,300-yard season beginning Sunday, Sept. 13, when the Falcons host the Seattle Seahawks to kick off their campaign.