3 teams 49ers don’t want to see Julio Jones traded to

The 49ers would have an awfully tough time trading for Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones, but hopefully, he doesn’t land with these three teams.

It’s not hard to understand why the thought of the San Francisco 49ers somehow finding a way to trade for Atlanta Falcons seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones this offseason.

Jones told FS1’s Shannon Sharpe on Monday, “I’m out of there,” referring to his situation with the Falcons and the desire to go play with a playoff-caliber team, not an Atlanta squad going through what could likely be a lengthy rebuild.

Not surprisingly, the thought of the 32-year-old Jones reuniting with Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan, under whom Jones was a two-time first-team All-Pro, gets awfully enticing.

Would Shanahan love to have Jones back? You bet. Would Jones make San Francisco better? Absolutely. Do the 49ers have an easy track to land Jones?

Well, no.

The 49ers are without first-round NFL Draft picks in 2022 and 2023. And while the Falcons may not be able to get a first-rounder back, it’ll be challenging for the Niners to absorb Jones’ $15-plus million cap hit this year. San Francisco still has to sign the upper half of its rookie draft class, and there are looming extensions pending for players like linebacker Fred Warner and EDGE Nick Bosa in the not-too-distant future.

As exciting as it would be, the reality of the 49ers somehow acquiring Jones is pretty slim.

But equally important, perhaps, is the Niners hoping and praying Jones doesn’t wind up being traded to a team that could ultimately stand in the way of Shanahan and Co. getting back to a Super Bowl.

Here are three squads San Francisco hopes won’t land Jones.