Julio Jones agrees to contract extension making him highest paid receiver in NFL

Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones has agreed to a contract extension that will make him the highest paid receiver in the NFL. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff did not reveal the terms of the deal, but multiple reports say that the extension is for three years and $66 million, including $64 million guaranteed. The deal means Jones will be in Atlanta through the 2023 season.

The 30-year-old Jones has been one of the best receivers in the league since the Falcons selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. In eight seasons he has 698 receptions for 10,631 yards and 51 touchdowns despite battling nagging injuries. Last season he had 54 catches for 959 yards and eight scores.

Though the team is waiting for Jones to sign the extension before holding a news conference to officially announce the deal, Dimitroff did confirm the agreement on Saturday afternoon in a video posted on the team's official Twitter feed. He said the sides had been working on an extension for more than a year.

"We've said this from the beginning -- I know [Falcons owner Arthur Blank] has been very outspoken about it, as I have: that with a player like [Jones] who has the ability to perform on the field and turn games around and turn defenses upside-down when he's operating at the top of his game, we feel he can be a difference-maker on so many levels for us, not only in the run game, not only in the deep passing game and underneath as well," Dimitroff said. "Whatever he's doing with us on the field is going to be beneficial for us to help us be a prolific offense."

As soon as the news became public, the Falcons Twitter feed sent out several tweets dedicated to Jones, including a 3-minute, 32-second video with coaches, players and media members praising his talents. The video began with a quote from Hall of Fame receiver Chris Carter, who said, "Julio Jones is the best wide receiver in the NFL."

In the video, Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said, "The impact that Julio has both on the field and off the field is remarkable. He is one of the best teammates that I've had the chance to coach. And by that I mean it's all the interactions that he has, not just with the receivers or with the quarterbacks, but with the offensive linemen, the defensive backs."

The Falcons open the season on Sunday at the Minnesota Vikings.