Falcons to focus on long-term contract for Julio Jones

With the 2015 NFL Draft now in the books, the Atlanta Falcons can soon be expected to turn their attention to the contract situation of their superstar wide receiver.

Having recently picked up the fifth-year option on Julio Jones rookie deal, the team will keep him under contract through the 2016 season but general manager Thomas Dimitroff knows that a long-term solution is also in order.

"There is no question that our focus in the future will be on Julio Jones and where we are," Dimitroff told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.

"I don't want to get into specifics about the timing of that, obviously. But now that the draft is over and we continue to build this football team, we understand that Julio is a very important part of our building and evolving as a championship-type team."

Now 26 years old and heading into his fifth season, Jones has long proven himself to be one of the league's most explosive play-making wide receivers.

Considering both past and future production, Jones can expect to become one of the NFL's highest-paid players at the position when it comes time for a new contract.

As Dimitroff's comments indicate, the Falcons are well aware that addressing Jones' future and ensuring that he remains in Atlanta for the long term will be a critical component of the team's continued progression going forward.