Why the Carolina Panthers should rejoice if Julio Jones is traded
By Dean Jones
How Julio Jones trade impacts the Carolina Panthers
If the Atlanta Falcons actually go through with it and trade Julio Jones, then the Carolina Panthers and others in the NFC South should be jumping for joy. Not having to game plan for someone with such a dominant history of production is a massive load off, although Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts should still be a handful even without the seven-time Pro Bowler.
It will give everyone a big lift and have a detrimental impact on Atlanta’s chances, at least in the short term. Jones not only makes game-changing plays at will, but his mere presence on the field opens things up for others to do damage with additional space to work.
This is another potentially big impact that shouldn’t be overlooked. The Falcons still have Ridley, Pitts, Hayden Hurst, and Russell Gage to call upon, plus a player the Panthers know extremely well in the backfield after Mike Davis joined them in free agency.
That being said, Jones would leave a gaping hole that is sure to be incredibly hard to replace. Players with the elite production he’s brought to the table for the best part of a decade don’t grow on trees, so Carolina’s chances of mounting more of a challenge are sure to improve if this trade speculation turns into something more.
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Jones has caused Panthers fans plenty of misery over the years. So crack open the champagne if he’s traded.