Julio Jones Draft Trade: Falcons Ex GM Thomas Dimitroff 'Went Against' Patriots' Bill Belichick

Former Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff's move to trade up in the 2011 NFL Draft to select receiver Julio Jones proved to be phenomenal - but at the time, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick advised against it.

Looking back nearly 12 years later, perhaps the best decision of Thomas Dimitroff's 13-year tenure as Atlanta Falcons general manager was moving up 21 picks - from No. 27 to No. 6 - in the 2011 NFL Draft to select Alabama receiver Julio Jones.

But at the time, it wasn't so simple.

Dimitroff, who arrived in Atlanta following a stint in the New England Patriots' personnel department, remained close with Patriots coach Bill Belichick ... and ahead of this monumental move, he went to his former boss for advice.

According to NFL Network, here's how the conversation went ...

"Belichick opposed the idea of gambling so heavily on a wide receiver, telling his friend the decision could taint his entire career," NFL Network wrote.

Instead, it did the opposite, as Jones grew into the greatest receiver in franchise history, finishing his 10-year Falcons career as the team's all-time leader in receptions (848) and receiving yards (12,896) yards while ranking second in touchdown grabs (60).

As such, Dimitroff looked like a genius - and feels as if the entire sequence of spurning Belichick's advice and drafting Jones took him to a different level as an executive.

"When I talked to Bill that day, I told him that he'd always taught me that you know your organization better than anybody else," Dimitroff told NFL Network. "When I went against his advice, that was an evolutionary moment for me."

One of the biggest things that Dimitroff knew about his organization was that he had the full support of those around him, including the most important one - owner Arthur Blank.

Despite Belichick's influence on his life and the direction he was given, Dimitroff trusted himself ... and ultimately felt secure enough to pull the trigger on a franchise-changing trade, thanks in part to the confidence he felt from Blank.

"When I was in Atlanta, Arthur Blank was categorically behind that decision to trade up for Julio," said Dimitroff. "He'd always been aggressive in his business dealings, and he felt the same way about football. I knew I was going to take a beating publicly, but I also knew my owner was behind me."

The primary motivator of the move? Dimitroff's feeling that the Falcons needed just a little bit more.

Atlanta went 13-3 in the season leading up to the 2011 draft but were blown out at home by the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round, falling 48-21 after getting a postseason bye.

Dimitroff knew that his team was good - but was also well aware that such a stout season has to end better than it did ... because that was simply what Blank expected.

"If a general manager understands the expectations of the owner and the owner understands what the general manager needs to do to build a team, then it will be a success," Dimitroff said.

That intricate understanding from both sides culminated in the blockbuster deal that saw the Falcons move their first- and fourth-round picks in both 2011 and 2012 and a second-round pick in 2011 all just for Jones.

But it proved to be more than that - it was the best 10 years the Falcons have ever had from a receiver and a player who grew into one of the most dominant wideouts in league history.

And to think - if Dimitroff had followed the advice of one of the greatest coaches in league history and somebody he greatly respects, none of it would've happened.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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