Velus Jones Jr.s speed and explosiveness are undeniable. 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. As wide receiver alone, Jones may be a coin flip as an NFL player. All Rights Reserved. Jones has very high production after initial contact. 1. Tracking where Velus Jones Jr. could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/bears-velus-jones-jr-nfl-draft-2022-expert-grades/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 22 TCU on Wednesday, March 1, Picks, predictions for Oklahoma vs. No. Feb 28, 2023 . PROMISES KEPT? Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. We are now in the throws of Pro Day season. In 2021, Jones had 62 receptions for 807 yards and seven TDs for the Vols in the best season of his career. 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. As one NFL season ends, the next is set to begin with the 2022 NFL Draft on the horizon. Oh, and how do they handle being a projected $76.16 million over the salary cap? Jones turns 25 in a few weeks, which turned off some teams. It always goes down smooth. Jones returned kicks in all five seasons he played, as well as returned punts for Tennessee in 2021. Tennessee footballs Velus Jones Jr. was selected by theChicago Bears in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 71st overall pick. 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. There are some prospects who can run a 4.31 forty-yard dash at the NFL combine but play a lot slower in-game. Plays like this are why Jones averaged 12.8 yards per reception at Tennessee, with 8.1 coming after the catch on average. New England is known for manufacturing touches in short aDOT roles. There are some prospects who rise their stock throughout the draft process; Velus Jones Jr is one of those guys. Of the Bears' 11 picks in the NFL Draft, ESPN analyst Todd McShay feels that third-round choice Velus Jones Jr., a receiver and return specialist from Tennessee, was their best selection. Latest on Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN . The Bears passed up on a handful of more proven receivers, including Jalen Tolbert, Calvin Austin III and David Bell. But what is great about this play is how he was untouched when making his way up field. What will the offense look like without Sean Payton? Those little nuances are how high-level receivers get separation. This also helped to hide one of Jones issues, albeit a rather large one. Sometimes, that is because there are some speedsters who can only run fast when going in a straight line. His limitations in the passing game mean that he probably wont see the field much, but he could pull off a few big plays to help his team. 9 3/4 71 overall. In the latter rounds of fantasy, where we are betting on profiles and talent, Jones makes sense as a player who will make the 53-man roster. Not a route-running specialist. Jones ranked 182nd on Bruglers big board. Pete Carroll and John Schneider knew they had to change their draft philosophy in 2022, and they explained it at the scouting combine. But the team missed its opportunity to find a legit target earlier in the process. Too bad they did so by investing in an older prospect, one whose primary function coming into the league will likely be as a returner. OVERALL. We offer recommendations from over 100 fantasy football experts! The speed, hands, and body control are there, as is a willingness to play a bit nasty when blocking or giving a CB an extra pop at the whistle. This leaves Amon-Ra St. Brown and Quintez Cephus as the primary options for Jared Goff (not including TE T.J. Hockenson). For one, Jones does not possess a developed route tree. The 2022 NFL draft will take place April 28-30 in Paradise, Nevada. Elite, darting stop-and-go acceleration with elite track speed. Please check your email for a confirmation. Great speed. 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 . The Chicago Bears select Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Velus Jones in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. Covers a lot of ground in the short half of the field and is slippery after the catch. How Jones projects as a wide receiver in the NFL is a bit of an unknown considering his modest offensive production throughout a college career that began in 2016 at USC and culminated in him catching 62 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns at Tennessee. 30 Days and 30 Players the Colts are/could be interested in. He has quite a ways to go as a route runner. Kick-return specialty appears when hes catching the ball on offense. Velus Jones Jr.s fantasy football scouting report, Jones has traits that make him a valuable receiver, Tennessee got Jones the ball in space, not due to his route running, Jones path to fantasy relevancy is shaky. Chargers Scouting Report: Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. Cole Topham. Velus Jones is an overaged prospect who offers help to a team as both a WR and kick returner. Does not flash much ability to catch outside of his frame or in traffic. Check out his YAC from the 2021 season: Best Draft WRs after the catch pic.twitter.com/A46NWLmVR3, No Flags Film (@NoFlagsFilm) March 30, 2022. Mocks. Round 5 - Dallas Cowboys (No. The Packers could be looking to acquire a new kick returner in the 2022 NFL draft. Velus (pronounced VAY-lus) Jones Jr.'s path to the 2022 NFL Draft went through Alabama, Southern California, and Tennessee. 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). The most likely projection for Jones is a starting returner and speed threat off the bench. Has decent hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and he backs that speed up on film. Velus Jones Jr . Velus Jones Jr. is one of the oldest prospects in the draft, and he didn't break out until his sixth season in college. If given a lane, hes going to burn you. (67%*), 30 7/8 The Lions still need quite a bit of help at receiver. 2/3/22 - Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. was asked about the connections he's built at the Senior Bowl, "All the quarterbacks, we go through all the plays together, we're building . Six-year player, thanks in part to the added year of COVID-19 eligibility. Velus Jones Jr. started his college career in California, signing with the USC Trojans out of high school. Jones stock rose during his final season at Tennessee. Will Michael Thomas be back, and how close will he look to the receiver we last saw back in 2020? General manager Ryan Poles opted to take a chance on Jones, who has blazing speed and has the potential to be dangerous in Luke Getsys offense. Bears Senior Writer. Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. The 6-foot, 200-pounder caught 120 passes for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns. For a player to have been in college long enough to get his masters, never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is concerning. The NFL . 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. He finished last season as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career and participated in the Senior Bowl. What about the status of Alvin Kamara? follow. Thats one of the primary questions NFL teams ask themselves when scouting a player. Odds and lines subject to change. Began his career at USC before transferring to Tennessee in 2020. 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. 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. WR Velus Jones Jr.: NFL Draft scouting report and fantasy football profile, Fantasy Basketball Picks: Top DraftKings NBA DFS Plays for March 1. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, spent three years at Southern Cal and two years at Tennessee. 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). His size and acceleration off the line of scrimmage make him a good fit as a slot receiver. NFL scouts have been in draft meetings past couple weeks and hearing @Vol_Football WR Velus Jones Jr. is getting pushed up many boards. Finally, some help for Justin Fields. Despite the lesser QB play from Kedon Slovis to Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton, Tennessee manufactured touches for Jones. 1 wideout like Michael Thomas. Jones also showed an ability to control his body on the sidelines and get his feet in bounds, staying cognizant of where he is in relation to the sidelines. It worked in college because DBs were playing off coverage against him due to the vertical threat his speed presents. He earned his undergraduate degree from USC and completed his masters at Tennessee. Jones appeared in 61 games with 21 starts over six seasons at USC (2016-19) and Tennessee (2020-21). An impressive athlete with very quick acceleration to reach his top speed quickly and stretch the field. . 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. That and his punt return work, also excellent, earned him a nod as the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021. Jones speed is what gains him separation, not his route running. Current. How many ways can a player bring value to our team? Last year, as a receiver, he caught 62 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. Velus Jones Jr. enters the NFL after six seasons in college football, spending 2016-2019 at USC and 2020-2021 at Tennessee. Top gear can separate from anyone. Jones also figures to contribute on special teams in the return game, where his speed and explosiveness can help with field position. There are some prospects who rise their stock throughout the draft process; Velus Jones Jr is one of those guys. Dangerous in the open field. But add his return skills to the equation, and his value rises. Smooth runner who can switch lanes with ease in space. Jones generated 2.67 yards per route and a 131.0 passer rating on passes thrown his way. Ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. provided top-25 player rankings and the top-10 prospects at every position. The Bears have wide receivers Mooney, Chase Claypool, Equanimeous St. Brown and Velus Jones Jr. set to return, but they certainly would benefit from adding bigger names than their low-cost . April 4, 2022 7:52 am ET. Jones is one of 324 prospects invited to the combine, which makes him potentially draftable. He ended the season with 1,722 all-purpose yards, which was third in the SEC conference. 0:43. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. Hes an unpolished route runner, but hes one of the best run-after-the-catch wideouts in this draft class. Theres certainly potential with Jones, whos the best yards-after-the-catch receiver in this draft class. He returned 23 kick for 628 yards, an average of 27.3 yards per return, and took one to the house. The Patriots make too much sense as a landing spot for Jones. Jones projects as a WR3 for the Bears behind Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle. 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. Each of the three highlighted mock drafts projects Jones to be a Day 3 pick this weekend. 209, Cincinnati Bengals. With the right NFL team, Jones could turn out to be a diamond in the rough. Maybe Jones joins them. Big 12 Tourney offering enhanced experience to fans with school-specific treats, The conference tourney has put together a weeklong experience that includes a tailored menu with some interesting item, 2023 Fantasy Golf Picks Arnold Palmer Invitational Picks, Predictions, Preview, Sleepers. Alvin Kamara of course has been their most notable pickup from Rocky Top, but theyve also gotten great returns on undrafted free agent finds like Marquez Callaway and Shy Tuttle. Copyright 2019-2023. The Bears were looking for speed and they found it in Jones, who ran a 4.31-second 40-yard dash. https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/velus-jones-2022-nfl-draft/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jones could step right in and make a difference as a return man. Jones spent over 80% of his time inside last season. Throwing him into the starting lineup right away wouldnt serve anyone well. View fantasy football projections for Velus Jones Jr. (Chicago Bears). An amazing kick-punt returner who could be drafted as a special teamer. Did he keep them? Matt Eberflus on ideal prospects: 'They have to have a love for the game' | Press Conference. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Over the next month, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up to the 2022 NFL draft. "By the beach," Jones said, "get away from everything and enjoy this moment with close friends and family.". All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Velus Jones Still, he possesses elite speed and showed real playmaking ability for the Vols in 2021. But hell need to perform on offense to extend his career. Sign up for the Saints Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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