Colliders Part With First-Ever Draft Pick

Julio Jones has played his last game as a Collider. Jones was drafted fourth overall in 2011. He stayed with the Colliders through restricted free agency, and then was franchise-tagged twice. Jones has three championships with Batavia to show for his eight years of service.

Due to league rules, the Colliders were not going to be able to apply the franchise tag again. Some fans hoped he’d be scooped up in unrestricted free agency, but those dreams were dashed when Batavia shipped Jones to Marshfield, where it is expected that the Pirates will apply the franchise tag.

The terms of the deal are as follows:

Pirates get: Julio Jones, pick 2.10, and pick 3.08
Colliders get: Pick 1.12

We’re sad to see him go…

Colliders’ owner Josh Hammond

The trade is essentially a second and third rounder for a first round pick given that the Colliders did not have a great opportunity to keep Jones. The move puts Batavia back in business for bidding on restricted free agents as they recovered a first rounder after trading both of their 2019 first round picks away last season for Ezekiel Elliott.

“We’re sad to see him go,” said Colliders’ owner Josh Hammond. “He’s the first guy I ever drafted, and probably the best pick I’ve ever made. He was an integral part of three championship teams, and I know we’ll do everything we can to get him back into the organization after he retires. We shed a tear for now, but I look forward to a major celebration when he hangs the cleats up and we retire #11, adding him to the Ring of Honor at Proton Park.”

Moments after winning their third title, many outside observers predicted it would be difficult for the Colliders to return many of their stars to the fold. Running back Ezekiel Elliott is expected to command a king’s ransom, so he might be the next star player to leave the warm championship waters of Batavia.

© 2019, Josh Hammond. All rights reserved.