Atlanta Falcons seek to make Julio Jones the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones isn't holding out from training camp and that distinguishes him from another high-profile player, Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, that is openly seeking a new contract. However, Jones won't be appearing in the preseason and all indications are that he is in search of a massive new deal with the Falcons. Jones' desire for a contract shift may have intensified when fellow wide receiver (and NFC South rival) Michael Thomas inked a $100 million deal earlier in the summer and, on Thursday, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff made some noteworthy comments about his team's No. 1 receiving option. 

"We know what Julio is in this league. We have a very good idea of approximately where he's going to be, which I won't share specifically," Dimitroff told NFL Network this week. "The good thing is we've never been held by our owner to be limiting someone and we're very good with our football players here. We feel very proud of how we approach it.

"And again, where we approach it with Julio, we look at everything, of course. We believe that he should be the highest-paid player -- sorry, I did not say player -- the highest-paid receiver in the league. And I know he believes that. It's just how we're going to approach this and how we're going to get it done. I believe it's right around the corner but I don't want know when it is."

Dimitroff's candidness about his belief that Jones "should be" at the top of the pay chart for wide receivers is interesting and, later in the interview, he also asserted that the Falcons "want Julio here for the rest of his career, whatever that is." Comments like these won't take the heat off Atlanta when attempting to negotiate with Jones but, at the very least, the Saints' deal with Thomas sets a new benchmark and Jones, considering his impressive and consistent production, should exceed those figures on his next contract.

It is entirely possible that the season will begin without a new deal for Jones but, in taking Dimitroff's comments to heart, the Falcons appear poised to pony up to secure a long-term pact with the All-Pro pass-catcher in the near future.