Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has declared that the club have turned their focus to securing a long-term deal for wide receiver Julio Jones.
The Falcons traded up to the sixth overall pick in the 2011 Draft to select Jones, and he has excelled in his time at the NFC South side to become one of the best wideouts in the NFL.
Dan Quinn's men used the option on Jones's contract to extend his deal into the 2015 season, but are now determined to lock up the future of the All-Pro before the start of the campaign.
"There is no question that our focus in the future will be on Julio Jones and where we are," Dimitroff told reporters.
"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."
Jones has recorded 278 receptions for 4,330 yards and 26 touchdowns in his four years in the NFL.
Simon Sinclair
