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Julio, Falcons agree to reported 3-year, $66M extension

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The Atlanta Falcons and Julio Jones have agreed to terms on a contract extension, the team announced Saturday.

Jones' new deal is reportedly a three-year, $66-million extension that includes $64 million guaranteed due at signing, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The receiver is now under contract with the Falcons for the next five seasons.

The reported annual average of $22 million makes Jones the highest-paid receiver in the league, eclipsing Michael Thomas' five-year, $96-million deal from earlier this offseason.

Jones was noncommittal this week as to whether he'd suit up for the team's Week 1 game against the Minnesota Vikings without a new contract in place.

The 30-year-old has been with the team throughout training camp, however, despite his request for a new contract.

Jones' previous deal kept him under contract through the 2020 campaign. He threatened to hold out prior to the 2018 season but the Falcons assured Jones they would renegotiate his contract and satisfied him with a temporary pay raise.

The six-time Pro Bowler has failed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards only twice during his eight-year career. Since being drafted sixth overall by the Falcons in the 2011 draft, he's averaged 96.7 yards per game, leading the league in that statistic in three seasons.

Jones recorded eight touchdowns and 113 receptions in 2018 while accumulating a league-leading 1,677 receiving yards.

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