Jones turns 25 in a few weeks, which turned off some teams. 2, but New Orleans needs someone on the interior. GRADE: 6.4 (High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round).
In 2021, Jones had 62 receptions for 807 yards and seven TDs for the Vols in the best season of his career. Despite the lesser QB play from Kedon Slovis to Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton, Tennessee manufactured touches for Jones. While he would start as a WR4, there is a path where Jones could see utilization quickly in Detroit. Draft Stock & Draft Projection. . Get the latest on Chicago Bears WR Velus Jones Jr. including news, stats, videos, and more on CBSSports.com . He earned his undergraduate degree from USC and completed his masters at Tennessee. The best hope for Jones is to establish himself as a blue chip special teams player with the speed and physicality to be a solid role player in the passing game. Throughout the game, once Jones beat several defenders deep, the defensive-backs tend to take a couple steps back pre-snap. . In the rare instances he was asked to run other routes, Jones lacked the technique or sharp movement skills to get in and out of breaks comfortably. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst couldn't have made it more clear at the scouting combine: He wants Jordan Love to play more. 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. Bill Belichick loves guys who can contribute in a multitude of ways, which should place Jones on his radar. Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. Ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. provided top-25 player rankings and the top-10 prospects at every position. In all likelihood, in most standard leagues, Jones wont be on the fantasy radar this season. This is also where things get a bit trickier from an evaluation standpoint. Wide receiver was Chicagos biggest weakness ahead of the NFL draft, where Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle were the teams top wideouts. 255, Los Angeles Chargers, Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): No. Take a shot on the speed of Jones in fantasy drafts and hope a team is patient enough to work through the growing pains at receiver. Needs to tighten up route running. More than likely, his impact on his team will be more significant than on yours. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and he backs that speed up on film. But what is great about this play is how he was untouched when making his way up field. Does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest. 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. On the boundary, its either a hitch, deep post, or a vertical route. The change came in the way he was utilized at Tennessee. Pro Football Network, LLC. John Amis/AP. Schedule; Podcast . Past. Theres certainly potential with Jones, whos the best yards-after-the-catch receiver in this draft class. Jones speed, elusiveness and acceleration make him a good fit as a slot receiver. DATABASE. Two of the three experts have him going to an NFC team in the fifth round. Next up is Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. But Jones played five seasons in two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 in May. WR Velus Jones Jr.: NFL Draft scouting report and fantasy football profile, Fantasy Basketball Picks: Top DraftKings NBA DFS Plays for March 1. He may not have the immediate acceleration of some other stud speedsters, but once Jones gets rolling, he is tough to catch from behind. Given the need, watch out for New Orleans to look at Jones later in the draft. Jones is a flawed route-runner. Knowing what he brings as a returner should endear him to head coach Dan Campbell. NFL MOCK DRAFT. Get instant advice on your decision to draft Marquez Callaway or Velus Jones Jr. in 2023. Did he keep them? Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. That said, hes an explosive pass-catcher with elite speed who should help Darnell Mooney challenge opposing defenses. When Jones lines up with another receiver on his side of the field (22 and 31 formations), we should expect him to spread the field with his speed using concepts. 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. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. Jones burst well after the catch but needs work to be trusted in an expanded capacity. Based on his scouting report, fantasy managers should keep their eye on these NFL franchises come draft day. Introducing a new series to the site that will take us right up to draft night. Jones speed is what gains him separation, not his route running. Cliccando su Accetta tutto accetti che Yahoo e i suoi partner possano trattare i tuoi dati personali e utilizzare tecnologie come i cookie per mostrarti annunci e contenuti personalizzati, per la misurazione degli annunci e dei contenuti, per l'analisi del pubblico e per lo sviluppo dei prodotti. Jones is extremely patient when running his routes and this clip is a great example. 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. But his route-running, though improved in the past year, is still seen as a weakness. Former Tennessee wide receiver and returner Velus Jones Jr. was ranked by Kiper Jr. as the fifth best returner in the 2022 NFL draft. It worked in college because DBs were playing off coverage against him due to the vertical threat his speed presents. As the saying goes, if hes even, hes leavin. This speed is how he creates separation both off the line and in the middle of the route. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (PA/OH) or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). That and his punt return work, also excellent, earned him a nod as the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021. Plays fast and explosive. Scouting Report: Summary. Where he really stood out was on special teams as a kick returner. Please check your email for a confirmation. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Furthermore, Jones' hands are a concern. Pat Mayo breaks down his 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational DraftKings Picks while previewing the course and key stats. Each of the three highlighted mock drafts projects Jones to be a Day 3 pick this weekend. Did he keep them? 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. Kick-return specialty appears when hes catching the ball on offense. 23 KR, 628 YDS (27.3 AVG), 1 TD, 18 PR, 272 YDS (15.1 AVG). 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 . Hes able to haul a back shoulder catch surrounded by three defenders. Marquez Callaway has shown signs of being a No. Velus Jones is an overaged prospect who offers help to a team as both a WR and kick returner. The NFL . Jones projects as a WR3 behind Mooney and Pringle, where the belief is Jones has an intriguing skillset but is still raw. 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). 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. And while we did get back to a normal NFL Scouting Combine a few weeks ago, a fair amount of top prospects decided to forego working out in Indianapolis, instead choosing to hit the field at their respective school's pro day.. As the reports begin to surface, CBSSports.com will be tracking all of the results . He would be a good pick on the third day of the draft, especially if the Saints add a more-established weapon sooner. 30 Days and 30 Players the Colts are/could be interested in. But it mightve been a reach on Chicagos part to select him with the seventh pick in the third round. His 4.31-second 40-yard dash made him the second-fastest wide receiver at this years NFL combine. Latest on Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN . 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. Jones fakes to the inside and gets open shortly after the sticks. 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. The Lions still need quite a bit of help at receiver. Drink it in. Runs crisp routes with sharp cuts. Often has to throttle down to find the ball. There are some prospects who rise their stock throughout the draft process; Velus Jones Jr is one of those guys. 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. In the passing game, teams will be drawn to his acceleration and ability to get down the field fast. Throwing him into the starting lineup right away wouldnt serve anyone well. He was a 2019 All-Pac-12 performer as a return specialist and a 2021 All-SEC selection as an all-purpose player and return specialist. 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. The Chicago Bears select Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Velus Jones in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. This is why Jones will stick on an NFL roster despite likely not having high draft capital. Covers a lot of ground in the short half of the field and is slippery after the catch. 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. The Jones pick garnered criticism from the draft community because of his age and draft projection. Returns, rushing and receiving has allowed Jones to rack up over 4,700 all-purpose yards. may help give them an inside track on some prospects in the 2022 NFL draft, but one player to note in particular is Tennessee Volunteers wideout Velus Jones Jr. For a player to have been in college long enough to get his masters, never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is concerning. OVERALL. 1 wideout like Michael Thomas. In the passing game, teams will be drawn to his acceleration and ability to get down the field fast. NFL scouts have been in draft meetings past couple weeks and hearing @Vol_Football WR Velus Jones Jr. is getting pushed up many boards. He showed progress in that area late in his college career, which is why his receiving production rose last season. Ethan Wolf and Bryce Thompson are also returning for 2022 from the Saints practice squad. If he was younger, hed have gone much earlier. Velus Jones Jr. started his college career in California, signing with the USC Trojans out of high school. Top gear can separate from anyone. 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. In his four years at USC, Jones recorded just 347 yards. Eligibility restrictions apply. He was an effective No. The Bears passed up on a handful of more proven receivers, including Jalen Tolbert, Calvin Austin III and David Bell. Josh Heupel made 10 promises when he became Tennessee football coach. The most likely projection for Jones is a starting returner and speed threat off the bench. April 4, 2022 7:52 am ET. In this clip below, Jones is going against an off-coverage defender with a safety over his left shoulder. What will the New Orleans Saints look like in 2022? There are some prospects who rise their stock throughout the draft process; Velus Jones Jr is one of those guys. But the team missed its opportunity to find a legit target earlier in the process. Jones also figures to contribute on special teams in the return game, where his speed and explosiveness can help with field position. Chargers Scouting Report: Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. Cole Topham. Dangerous in the open field. How many ways can a player bring value to our team? As a receiver-returner with explosive speed, quickness and burst, Jones should make his mark as a WR3/WR4 and return specialist early in his career. And if there were any questions that he only has track speed, Jones was just as fast in game situations. 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 . The 2022 NFL draft will take place April 28-30 in Paradise, Nevada. This leaves Amon-Ra St. Brown and Quintez Cephus as the primary options for Jared Goff (not including TE T.J. Hockenson). Velus Jones Jr. is one of the oldest prospects in the draft, and he didn't break out until his sixth season in college. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Jones patiently waited for his opportunity to showcase his talents, resulting in a scouting report full of potential. It took until his sixth collegiate season to earn a consistent starting role, but the lull was worth it. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. With the NFL Draft closing in, which teams make the most sense for Jones as projected landing spots? In his six years yes, six years Jones recorded almost 3,000 kick return yards while attending both USC (2016-2019) and Tennessee (2020-2021). He thrived in the no-huddle offense where he was primarily running routes out of the slot. 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