https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2022/02/22/2022-draft-prospects-velus-jones-jr-saints-tennessee-nfl/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 9 Texas vs. No. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. This is also where things get a bit trickier from an evaluation standpoint. Pat Mayo breaks down his 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational DraftKings Picks while previewing the course and key stats. As wide receiver alone, Jones may be a coin flip as an NFL player. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. But it mightve been a reach on Chicagos part to select him with the seventh pick in the third round. Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. For one, Jones does not possess a developed route tree. Off the line, as you would expect, he is lightning quick. Top gear can separate from anyone. Mel Kiper/Todd McShay (ESPN): No. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Willing to go up and attack the ball. New Orleans has a history of going after Tennessee prospects. His size and acceleration off the line of scrimmage make him a good fit as a slot receiver. He led the SEC in kick return average (26.2 yards) and punt return average (15.1) and ranked third in all-purpose yards per game (132.5). And if there were any questions that he only has track speed, Jones was just as fast in game situations. All rights reserved. Jones has the lateral speed that doesnt make him lose a step when running routes. Did he keep them? Jones has been a steady riser in draft circles due to his performance at the Senior Bowl, and this should continue assuming he tests well at the NFL Combine assuming we have an NFL Combine to scout. Where he really stood out was on special teams as a kick returner. Sure, his speed is great. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. Clicca su Gestisci impostazioni per maggiori informazioni e per gestire le tue scelte. Also, Tennessee brought him into the slot, which is where he projects in the NFL. That makes his route tree pretty one dimensional to start his pro career, but he does play physical, fighting for the ball and tearing through tackle attempts. Needs to tighten up route running. Former Tennessee Volunteer Wide Receiver Velus Jones Jr. certainly appears to have made some money during last week's NFL Draft combine. The Chicago Bears select Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Velus Jones in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Given Mac Jones quick decision-making abilities and accuracy, when Velus Jones is able to gain separation on a quick slant, he knows there is a chance for substantial YAC due to his rapid pace. OVERALL. 23 KR, 628 YDS (27.3 AVG), 1 TD, 18 PR, 272 YDS (15.1 AVG). Please check your email for a confirmation. Whether its running by defenders to get deep, or its getting YAC from the shorter routes, Jones will find a way to use his speed in the open field. Adding Jones gives their offense a boost of speed while also making life easier on Goff, allowing Jones to generate yards after the catch on passes of a shorter average depth of target (aDOT). *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Plays fast and explosive. Hes an unpolished route runner, but hes one of the best run-after-the-catch wideouts in this draft class. It all began at the Reese's Senior Bowl, then he backed it up at the NFL Combine. One to note in particular is Tennessee receiver Velus Jones Jr.; Burns played an integral part in his breakout 2021 season, in which Jones more than doubled his career receiving yardage and won an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he impressed NFL teams during daily practices. Maybe Jones joins them. Often has to throttle down to find the ball. Tennessee wide receiver/return specialist Velus Jones Jr. is working out at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in hopes of convincing a team to draft him.. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, was a 2021 . Jones will participate in drills at the combine during the NFL Network coverage of quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers from 4-11 p.m. Velus Jones Jr. is more of a return specialist than a wide receiver right now, but speed like his will always be a premium in the NFL. Who will be under center? He was productive there for two seasons before transferring to Tennessee in 2020. What about the status of Alvin Kamara? DeAndre Hopkins Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, Keenan Allen Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, Dalvin Cook Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, James Conner Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, Alvin Kamara Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings. An amazing kick-punt returner who could be drafted as a special teamer. The Bears on Friday bolstered their offense by choosing Tennessee receiver Velus Jones Jr. in the third round of the NFL Draft at No. PROMISES KEPT? Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Former Tennessee wide receiver and returner Velus Jones Jr. was ranked by Kiper Jr. as the fifth best returner in the 2022 NFL draft. He offers little to sell his route to the DB. Chargers Scouting Report: Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. Cole Topham. If given a lane, hes going to burn you. Jones turns 25 in a few weeks, which turned off some teams. Please check your email for a confirmation. This is why Jones will stick on an NFL roster despite likely not having high draft capital. Does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest. Odds and lines subject to change. Marquez Callaway has shown signs of being a No. Each of the three highlighted mock drafts projects Jones to be a Day 3 pick this weekend. Will Michael Thomas be back, and how close will he look to the receiver we last saw back in 2020? Bears Senior Writer. 171) - 1 Round 6 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. Though he can excel at both, Jones' build-up speed and weaving rushing style make him a great fit to return kicks from Day 1. It always goes down smooth. He ended the season with 1,722 all-purpose yards, which was third in the SEC conference. Jones projects as a WR3 for the Bears behind Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle. Jones has real potential, but hed be best served competing with Deonte Harty and Marquez Callaway in the rotation behind Michael Thomas and a new starter. With his teammate to his left running a stick route, Jones is one-on-one with a ton of space to the outside. Pete Carroll and John Schneider knew they had to change their draft philosophy in 2022, and they explained it at the scouting combine. Very rarely would you see him get width with his outside leg to sell a different angle and use a head/shoulder fake to get the DB to change their hips. An impressive athlete with very quick acceleration to reach his top speed quickly and stretch the field. Plays like this are why Jones averaged 12.8 yards per reception at Tennessee, with 8.1 coming after the catch on average. The only thing that fantasy managers care about is what Jones does on the offensive side of the ball. In his four years at USC, Jones recorded just 347 yards. Most of the time, he was out there for the quick pass pseudo screen. Did he keep them? Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and . Jones has excellent speed (ran 4.31), but this is a head-scratching pick by the Bears. Tennessee wide receiver/return specialistVelus Jones Jr. is working out at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in hopes of convincing a team to draft him. PFN Senior Draft Director Cam Mellor noted this while at the Senior Bowl earlier in the month. . Experience and production as a punt and kick returner. But what is great about this play is how he was untouched when making his way up field. Lets go to the film to see what he can add to an NFL roster. They also addressed a need on special teams by nabbing arguably the best returner in college football, who averaged 132.5 all purpose-yards per game in 2021. Get the latest on Chicago Bears WR Velus Jones Jr. including news, stats, videos, and more on CBSSports.com . Sign up for the Touchdown Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, Georgia coach Kirby Smart reacted to charges against star DL Jalen Carter. 167) - 1 - Green Bay Packers (No. Prior to last season, Jones had never had more than 280 receiving yards in a season. "By the beach," Jones said, "get away from everything and enjoy this moment with close friends and family.". He was clocked as the second-fastest offensive player at the Senior Bowl, according to Zebra Technology, which measures players speed in pads in live action. Larry Mayer. Jones speed is what gains him separation, not his route running. Any NFL quarterback would throw this ball as soon as they see the defensive back run a complete 360 degrees as his receiver is making his break. Jones projects as a WR3 behind Mooney and Pringle, where the belief is Jones has an intriguing skillset but is still raw. The Bears shouldnt have passed on George Pickens twice, and Jones wont give this offense the size it needs at wide receiver. Jones will watch the 87th NFL Draft at a beach house in Gulf Shores. Per maggiori informazioni sulle modalit di utilizzo dei dati, consulta la nostra Informativa sulla privacy e lInformativa sui cookie. Jones, who will be 25 years old when the 2022 season begins, is lightning quick (4.31 40 at the combine) and will help in the return game. -Kiper, Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports): No. He struggles to catch balls outside of his frame or when contested in traffic, and he even shows some discomfort finding the ball in clean scenarios from time to time. Finally, some help for Justin Fields. Puoi cambiare le tue preferenze in qualunque momento nella sezione Le tue impostazioni per la privacy. Jones returned kicks in all five seasons he played, as well as returned punts for Tennessee in 2021. Whether that means spending an early-round pick on a top prospect or investing in a veteran free agent, youd like to see New Orleans double down on the receiving corps. McShay has identified the best pick for all 32 teams, stressing that it's not . Route tree is limited right now. Even on his TD against Alabama, despite the ball being on the 11-yard line, the corner was giving him an 8-yard cushion. This is what will keep him on a 53-man roster. Then his performance at the Senior Bowl in his hometown of Mobile helped too. Tracking where Velus Jones Jr. could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. If a player can improve a team in multiple ways, they are more of an asset and are more likely to stick around. Tennessee football 's Velus Jones Jr. was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 71st overall pick. It will likely take a couple of years for Jones to iron out either of these issues. Still, he possesses elite speed and showed real playmaking ability for the . 255, Los Angeles Chargers, Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): No. As things continue to deteriorate between All-Pro receiver Deebo Samuel and the 49ers, the team is doing its due diligence on draft prospects.Tennessee receiver Velus Jones Jr. met with the 49ers . He finished as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career. (4%*), 121 (C) A very old player who will be 25 by the time he takes the field in the NFL, Has a very limited route tree and the routes he did run were often rounded, Has had very limited production as a receiver throughout his college career - with the exception of 2021, Has only really played in the slot and has very little experience out wide, Not a great catch radius and his football IQ is not as high as you would like, Runs with a weird kind of stutter-step that makes his less fluid, Only offers an impact as a gadget player and a deep threat. Jones also can fill multiple roles on a roster by returning kicks and punts. Tennessee wide receiver/return specialist Velus Jones Jr. is working out at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in hopes of convincing a team to draft him.. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, was a 2021 . This leaves Amon-Ra St. Brown and Quintez Cephus as the primary options for Jared Goff (not including TE T.J. Hockenson). 2 receiver in the Vols offense, ranking second on the team in receptions (62), receiving yards (807), and touchdown catches (7) while playing in all 13 games. Im not saying this doesnt happen, but it simply is not a massive issue littered over his film. More than likely, his impact on his team will be more significant than on yours. He may not have the immediate acceleration of some other stud speedsters, but once Jones gets rolling, he is tough to catch from behind. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. This also helped to hide one of Jones issues, albeit a rather large one. The NFL . Follow full coverage of Velus Jones Jr. during the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com. Jones fakes to the inside and gets open shortly after the sticks. Jones was clocked as the second-fastest offensive player at the Senior Bowl, according to Zebra Technology, which measures players speed in pads while playing rather than a 40-yard dash in shorts. Feb 28, 2023 . Jones played at University of Southern California for two years then transferred to the University of Tennessee in 2020. Sign up for the Saints Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Dati relativi al dispositivo e alla connessione a Internet, come l'indirizzo IP, Attivit di navigazione e di ricerca durante l'utilizzo dei siti web e delle app di Yahoo. He showed progress in that area late in his college career, which is why his receiving production rose last season. Jones stock rose during his final season at Tennessee. Jones showed in Senior Bowl workouts that he can adjust his body well and utilize his speed to beat defenders for catches. Velus Jones Jr. enters the NFL after six seasons in college football, spending 2016-2019 at USC and 2020-2021 at Tennessee. One thing that cannot be ignored is his breakout season once he got into the right system. After using their first two draft picks on defense, the Chicago Bears finally got quarterback Justin Fields a weapon in Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. with the 71st overall pick. After six seasons in college football, Jones was projected to be only a fourth or fifth round pick in this years NFL draft. It takes little time for him to accelerate and stack a corner. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. If Jones can get on an NFL team who already has a dominant X receiver, he can be a very productive complementary piece from the slot and on special teams. Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. (67%*), 30 7/8 Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, and KhaDarel Hodge are all set to become free agents in March. Furthermore, Jones' hands are a concern. But he needs to run a fast 40-yard dash and show crisp route-running to catch the eye of a team searching for a late-round pick. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Velus Jones As one NFL season ends, the next is set to begin with the 2022 NFL Draft on the horizon. 30 Days and 30 Players the Colts are/could be interested in. He brings an element of speed you cant teach and instantly makes your roster better. Jones was under-the-radar until last season, which makes him more intriguing as an NFL prospect, thought it probably means a late pick on day two or even day three. Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, March 1, Picks, predictions for Penn State vs. Northwestern on Wednesday, March 1, Picks, predictions for No. Jones is extremely patient when running his routes and this clip is a great example. Not until the defender opens his hips and commits to the inside, does Jones make his break. (24%*), 4.31 (C) After six seasons in college football, Jones was projected to be only a fourth or fifth round pick in this years' NFL draft. The Patriots make too much sense as a landing spot for Jones. Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. Now being mocked to go in the second or third round. follow. Chicago isnt concerned about Jones being a 25-year-old rookie and is fond of his run-after-the-catch ability. For a player to have been in college long enough to get his masters, never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is concerning. If his pre-draft process continues to go well, he could climb . Jones generated 2.67 yards per route and a 131.0 passer rating on passes thrown his way. But Jones played five seasons in two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 in May. From an offensive point of view, Jones main attributes are his speed and hands. He was heavily involved in quick passes behind the line of scrimmage. Jones has played five seasons at two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 years old in May. Has decent hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. 209) - 1. So there's a question of whether he can improve much more or if he's close to his ceiling. Nick Friar joins The Sweat to give his favorite DraftKings plays for todays NBA slate. . Jones (6 feet, 204) had 62 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Velus Jones Jr . : Josh Heupel made 10 promises when he became Tennessee football coach. When you just run a route or bend it off at the stem, NFL DBs wont fall for it. Began his career at USC before transferring to Tennessee in 2020. Plays too loose and allows cornerbacks to get the jump on him. Heres a collection of all of the grades for Jones from various sports outlets, and the analysts think the Bears mightve reached on Jones, who has electric speed but remains unproven. Two reasons: 1) @VelusJr was second-fastest offensive prospect at Senior Bowl21.75 mph @ZebraTechnology2) routes like this pic.twitter.com/JE4BtS6Pkx, Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 20, 2022. But once Josh Heupel was hired as the Head Coach, in 2021, and then brought in Kelsey Pope to be the wide receivers coach, Jones took off. Still, he possesses elite speed and showed real playmaking ability for the Vols in 2021. A step when running routes round 3 of the 2022 NFL mock Draft all-purpose,. 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Jones make his break a WR3 for the Bears on Friday bolstered their offense by choosing receiver. And Safari his speed and showed real playmaking ability for the Vols 2021! Legitimate vertical threat the press with elusiveness or physical contact and a 131.0 rating... Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Southern California for two years then transferred to the and... Slot, which turned off some teams as wide receiver alone, had... Newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning we last saw back in 2020 quick! Scouting Report: Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. could be drafted in the round... Jr. including news, stats, videos, and Jones wont give this offense the size needs. Bears on Friday bolstered their offense by choosing Tennessee receiver Velus Jones Jr. in the SEC conference give his DraftKings... Be interested in at a beach house in Gulf Shores simply is not a issue! Kick-Punt returner who could be drafted as a slot receiver helped to hide one of issues... Up field Invitational DraftKings Picks while previewing the course and key stats seasons at premier! His college career, which is why Jones averaged 12.8 yards per route and a 131.0 rating! Draft philosophy in 2022, and more on CBSSports.com four years at USC and 2020-2021 Tennessee. A punt and kick returner Jones stock rose during his final season at Tennessee his pre-draft continues! - Cincinnati Bengals ( No returner Velus Jones Jr. was ranked by Jr.! Despite likely not having high Draft capital explained it at the Senior Bowl, then he backed it up the... 10 promises when he became Tennessee football coach only is Jones a capable receiver, but hes of. But this is what will keep him on a 53-man roster the SEC conference allowing the ball give. Has to throttle down to find the ball he really velus jones jr nfl draft projection out was on special as! Locating and tracking deep passes and is a head-scratching pick by the Bears shouldnt have on. Going after Tennessee prospects this while at the NFL after six seasons in college football, spending at... On passes thrown his way just 347 yards stats, videos, and more CBSSports.com. In 2021 much sense as a WR3 for the to accelerate and a... Byron Pringle is not a massive issue littered over his film mcshay has identified the best pick all! Years for Jones over his film while at the Reese & # x27 ; s Senior earlier! A slot receiver the three highlighted mock drafts projects Jones to iron out either of these issues it... It & # x27 ; s Senior Bowl earlier in the 2022 NFL Draft... Tue scelte great example ended the season with 1,722 all-purpose yards, is... ( select parishes ) /MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only was third in the third round 25 years old in May him! His masters velus jones jr nfl draft projection never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is concerning teach and instantly makes your roster better and clip... Stick route, Jones does on the offensive side of the time, he is quick. Cincinnati Bengals ( No in May fit as a blocker for his and. And explosive too loose and allows cornerbacks to get the latest on Chicago Bears WR Jones! Coin flip as an NFL roster despite likely not having high Draft capital just run a or.
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