Star wide receiver Julio Jones signed a one-year deal worth at least $6 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday, bolstering one of the best offenses in the NFL ahead of the 2022 season. The longtime Atlanta Falcon signed with the Titans last year and struggled, but said he was completely healthy and ready for the season in a press conference following the announcement.
With Tom Brady under center, Tampa Bay has enjoyed a crowded room of wide receivers for several seasons now, of which Jones is the most recent addition. The seven-time Pro Bowler joins Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and former teammate Russell Gage, along with role players like Breshad Perriman, Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson and Jaelon Darden. Last season, the Bucs had the highest-ranked receiving corps in nearly every meaningful statistical category, earning 316 yards per game and 43 touchdowns in the regular season.
In what may be one of Brady’s final pushes for the Super Bowl, Jones’ motivations will likely align well with his quarterback. The 33-year-old and surefire Hall-of-Famer has yet to win a Super Bowl, and though he will likely serve in a supporting role for the Bucs, he will also join a team with perennial postseason hopes.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning, Jones said that he had been considering signing with Tampa Bay “all along.” After leaving Atlanta for Tennessee in 2021, Jones played through a lingering hamstring injury that continued to affect his production after a dull 2020 season with the Falcons. The receiver has not had a 1,000-yard season since 2018 and is well past his glory days.
But if he’s healthy and focused on winning a Super Bowl, Jones could prove to be an extremely valuable asset for a team looking to replace tight end Rob Gronkowski, who retired after making his own Super Bowl run with Brady in 2020. The Bucs have not been afraid to take risks with splashy moves in recent years to acquire established stars, but at the very least, Jones appears motivated and will provide even more depth to an elite offense.
