This is also where things get a bit trickier from an evaluation standpoint. Jones spent over 80% of his time inside last season. Jones fakes to the inside and gets open shortly after the sticks. In 2021, Jones had 62 receptions for 807 yards and seven TDs for the Vols in the best season of his career. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. It takes little time for him to accelerate and stack a corner. 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. 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. Even on his TD against Alabama, despite the ball being on the 11-yard line, the corner was giving him an 8-yard cushion. He finished as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career. The Patriots make too much sense as a landing spot for Jones. Please play responsibly. tight end Cole Kmet and wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. speak with the media in the locker room following the Bears' Week 18 loss to . 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 . Most of the time, he was out there for the quick pass pseudo screen. It started with his measurements as Jones Jr. measured in . 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. 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. 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. . The inline receiver would block the CB, with Jones getting the quick pass for a gain. View fantasy football projections for Velus Jones Jr. (Chicago Bears). Did he keep them? In the passing game, teams will be drawn to his acceleration and ability to get down the field fast. Tracking where Velus Jones Jr. could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. 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 . 1 wideout like Michael Thomas. The most likely projection for Jones is a starting returner and speed threat off the bench. Prior to last season, Jones had never had more than 280 receiving yards in a season. 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. That rings true both with and without the ball in his hands, making Jones as much of a deep threat as he is a yards-after-catch weapon. Plays fast and explosive. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. Last year, as a receiver, he caught 62 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. Jones has the lateral speed that doesnt make him lose a step when running routes. Jones is extremely patient when running his routes and this clip is a great example. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and he backs that speed up on film. 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. Bears Senior Writer. 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 played at University of Southern California for two years then transferred to the University of Tennessee in 2020. Feb 28, 2023 . Jones projects as a WR3 behind Mooney and Pringle, where the belief is Jones has an intriguing skillset but is still raw. What will the New Orleans Saints look like in 2022? Covers a lot of ground in the short half of the field and is slippery after the catch. 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. Returns, rushing and receiving has allowed Jones to rack up over 4,700 all-purpose yards. So there are questions of whether he can improve much more. Pat Mayo breaks down his 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational DraftKings Picks while previewing the course and key stats. That being said, Jones is not a complete receiver right now. 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. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Mocks. Not only does early separation come in handy when stopping the clock during two-minute drills or on third-and-short situations; but Jones can use that space to gain yards after the catch from running slants and quick screens. But hell need to perform on offense to extend his career. In this clip below, Jones is going against an off-coverage defender with a safety over his left shoulder. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, spent three years at Southern Cal and two years at Tennessee. It all began at the Reeses Senior Bowl, then he backed it up at the NFL Combine. 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. Plays too loose and allows cornerbacks to get the jump on him. 167) - 1 - Green Bay Packers (No. Velus Jones is an overaged prospect who offers help to a team as both a WR and kick returner. Last season, Jones caught 62 passes for over 800 yards, seven touchdowns and had three games where he had over 100+ receiving yards. NFL COMBINE:How Velus Jones' 40 time at NFL Combine may help Tennessee football WR's draft stock. John Amis/AP. 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. Velus Jones Jr. WR; Senior; 5-11, 204 lbs; Tennessee; Scouts Grade; Position Rank; Overall Rank; Arm Length 30-5/8" Hand Size 9-1/4" 40-YD Dash 4.31; Conference TBD; 2022 Draft Pick Info . Jones turns 25 in a few weeks, which turned off some teams. . His route tree was largely limited to go balls, screens and slants. Route tree is limited right now. Jones returned kicks in all five seasons he played, as well as returned punts for Tennessee in 2021. For fantasy, unless you play in leagues that reward return yards, it doesnt matter. 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. He finished last season as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career and participated in the Senior Bowl. Willing to go up and attack the ball. Smooth runner who can switch lanes with ease in space. What about the status of Alvin Kamara? Get the latest on Chicago Bears WR Velus Jones Jr. including news, stats, videos, and more on CBSSports.com . 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. 11 Kansas State on Wednesday, March 1, Jalen Carter charged with misdemeanors in traffic death near Georgia campus, Fantasy Basketball Picks: Top DraftKings NBA DFS Targets, Values for March 1. Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills. Mel Kiper/Todd McShay (ESPN): No. May 01, 2022 at 11:30 AM. It took until his sixth collegiate season to earn a consistent starting role, but the lull was worth it. 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. (67%*), 30 7/8 Bill Belichick loves guys who can contribute in a multitude of ways, which should place Jones on his radar. Velus Jones Jr. Jones will watch the 87th NFL Draft at a beach house in Gulf Shores. Void in ONT. Jones would fit right in for the Patriots on offense and special teams. He offers little to sell his route to the DB. PFN Senior Draft Director Cam Mellor noted this while at the Senior Bowl earlier in the month. Special with the ball in his hands. The Lions still need quite a bit of help at receiver. 209) - 1. NFL scouts have been in draft meetings past couple weeks and hearing @Vol_Football WR Velus Jones Jr. is getting pushed up many boards. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The draft begins April 28. That said, hes an explosive pass-catcher with elite speed who should help Darnell Mooney challenge opposing defenses. Jones could fit the mold. Tennessee footballs Velus Jones Jr. was selected by theChicago Bears in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 71st overall pick. 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 whats interesting is that Jones didnt hit his stride until Burns started coaching him; in his first 46 games, most of them at USC, he totaled just 58 receptions for 627 yards and 4 touchdowns. But what is great about this play is how he was untouched when making his way up field. 2, but New Orleans needs someone on the interior. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and . Former Tennessee speedster Velus Jones Jr. revealed he was in Green Bay on Tuesday, April 5 when he shared a . Nick Friar joins The Sweat to give his favorite DraftKings plays for todays NBA slate. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Draft Stock & Draft Projection. Mostly a screen-and-go ball player at this stage. 255, Los Angeles Chargers, Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): No. 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. Jones speed, elusiveness and acceleration make him a good fit as a slot receiver. Marquez Callaway has shown signs of being a No. Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. Then his performance at the Senior Bowl in his hometown of Mobile helped too. https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/velus-jones-2022-nfl-draft/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. . The Jones pick garnered criticism from the draft community because of his age and draft projection. 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 Bears shouldnt have passed on George Pickens twice, and Jones wont give this offense the size it needs at wide receiver. (4%*), 121 (C) 71 overall. Not until the defender opens his hips and commits to the inside, does Jones make his break. 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 change came in the way he was utilized at Tennessee. March 10, 2022 10:00 am PT. Yahoo fa parte della famiglia di brand di Yahoo. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and he backs that speed up on film. Gambling Problem? Jones is one of 324 prospects invited to the combine, which makes him potentially draftable. 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. Does well to separate down the field. 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. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. DATABASE. With Nelson Agholor as the field stretcher and NKeal Harry, well, a disappointment, Jones could work on the interior in the slot and possibly fill role Jakobi Meyers role if he leaves as a restricted free agent. Lets go to the film to see what he can add to an NFL roster. 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. Jones has very high production after initial contact. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Velus Jones He has quite a ways to go as a route runner. One thing that cannot be ignored is his breakout season once he got into the right system. , Firefox and Safari help Darnell Mooney challenge opposing defenses with his measurements as Jr.! Pass for a gain a consistent starting role, but the lull worth. 8-Yard cushion three years at Southern Cal and two years then transferred to the inside, does Jones make break... Add to an NFL roster 25 in a few weeks, which turned some..., Los Angeles Chargers, Vinnie Iyer ( Sporting news ): No teams will be drawn to acceleration... 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