For fantasy, unless you play in leagues that reward return yards, it doesnt matter. 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. But what is great about this play is how he was untouched when making his way up field. He was heavily involved in quick passes behind the line of scrimmage. Clicca su Gestisci impostazioni per maggiori informazioni e per gestire le tue scelte. 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. He waits until the very last second to make his way to the outside. 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. He showed progress in that area late in his college career, which is why his receiving production rose last season. Ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. provided top-25 player rankings and the top-10 prospects at every position. 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. Jones fakes to the inside and gets open shortly after the sticks. Next up is Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. Chicago isnt concerned about Jones being a 25-year-old rookie and is fond of his run-after-the-catch ability. 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. Why Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays' draft stock is unpredictable at NFL Scouting Combine. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst couldn't have made it more clear at the scouting combine: He wants Jordan Love to play more. He spent six years in college four at USC and two more at Tennessee. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and . Great speed. The Bears passed up on a handful of more proven receivers, including Jalen Tolbert, Calvin Austin III and David Bell. Special with the ball in his hands. 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. Jones showed in Senior Bowl workouts that he can adjust his body well and utilize his speed to beat defenders for catches. Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Jones has very high production after initial contact. For a player to have been in college long enough to get his masters, never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is concerning. John Amis/AP. Jones does offer immediate special teams value, though. How many ways can a player bring value to our team? 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. For a team with limited resources, why spend a Day 2 pick on a soon-to-be 25-year-old rookie slot receiver with one year of production? After six seasons in college football, Jones was projected to be only a fourth or fifth round pick in this years' NFL draft. Odds and lines subject to change. 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. 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. Off the line, as you would expect, he is lightning quick. He earned his undergraduate degree from USC and completed his masters at Tennessee. Oh, and how do they handle being a projected $76.16 million over the salary cap? Will Michael Thomas be back, and how close will he look to the receiver we last saw back in 2020? It worked in college because DBs were playing off coverage against him due to the vertical threat his speed presents. Get instant advice on your decision to draft Marquez Callaway or Velus Jones Jr. in 2023. 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. 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 spent three years at Southern Cal and two years at Tennessee. 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. Jones spent over 80% of his time inside last season. Throwing him into the starting lineup right away wouldnt serve anyone well. It will likely take a couple of years for Jones to iron out either of these issues. Velus Jones Jr. started his college career in California, signing with the USC Trojans out of high school. Jones also figures to contribute on special teams in the return game, where his speed and explosiveness can help with field position. The Bears shouldnt have passed on George Pickens twice, and Jones wont give this offense the size it needs at wide receiver. In the clip below, from spread trips, Jones is lined up in the outside-slot running a fade. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. Pete Carroll and John Schneider knew they had to change their draft philosophy in 2022, and they explained it at the scouting combine. 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. Gambling Problem? Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, spent three years at Southern Cal and two years at Tennessee. Crazy timed speed. This gave Jones more room at the line of scrimmage to start getting the ball earlier in his routes. Jones speed, elusiveness and acceleration make him a good fit as a slot receiver. Ethan Wolf and Bryce Thompson are also returning for 2022 from the Saints practice squad. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Still, he possesses elite speed and showed real playmaking ability for the Vols in 2021. Pro Football Network, LLC. He returned 23 kick for 628 yards, an average of 27.3 yards per return, and took one to the house. Zebra Technologies tracking found that he was consistently one of the fastest players in practices during the week, and hes put enough work into refining his routes to compete at the pro level. 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. But hell need to perform on offense to extend his career. Jones has played five seasons at two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 years old in May. But Jones played five seasons in two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 in May. OVERALL. (24%*), 4.31 (C) ET on Thursday. GRADE: 6.4 (High . If his pre-draft process continues to go well, he could climb . Who will be under center? See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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. In all likelihood, in most standard leagues, Jones wont be on the fantasy radar this season. 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. Copyright 2019-2023. The 6-foot, 200-pounder caught 120 passes for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns. Head coach Matt Eberflus addresses the media on Tuesday during the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. . Jones projects as a WR3 for the Bears behind Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle. With the right NFL team, Jones could turn out to be a diamond in the rough. Jones would fit right in for the Patriots on offense and special teams. All rights reserved. Chargers Scouting Report: Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. Cole Topham. It all began at the Reeses Senior Bowl, then he backed it up at the NFL Combine. If given a lane, hes going to burn you. 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. What will the New Orleans Saints look like in 2022? New Orleans has a history of going after Tennessee prospects. Maybe Jones joins them. It takes little time for him to accelerate and stack a corner. Please check your email for a confirmation. All of this can and will be coached in the NFL, assuming Jones is viewed as more than a returner. He offers little to sell his route to the DB. Latest on Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN . Experience and production as a punt and kick returner. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. Current. Even on his TD against Alabama, despite the ball being on the 11-yard line, the corner was giving him an 8-yard cushion. Listed at 6-foot-even and exactly 200 pounds, Jones broke out in 2021 during Burns first year at Tennessee after transferring from USC a season earlier. The NFL . . 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. https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2022/02/22/2022-draft-prospects-velus-jones-jr-saints-tennessee-nfl/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. And by not taking a receiver in Round 2, or an offensive lineman before Round 5, the Bears . Willing to go up and attack the ball. But his route-running, though improved in the past year, is still seen as a weakness. After six seasons in college football, Jones was projected to be only a fourth or fifth round pick in this years NFL draft. Velus Jones Jr. 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. 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. Puoi cambiare le tue preferenze in qualunque momento nella sezione Le tue impostazioni per la privacy. Velus Jones Jr. leads team in receiving yards in Week 16 Velus Jones Jr. hauled in two of four targets for 52 receiving yards in the Bears' 35-13 Week 16 loss to the Bills. NFL MOCK DRAFT. 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. 90, Tennessee Titans, Tennessee doesnt have its second-round pick because of last years Julio Jones trade, so it could use this pick to add a playmaker for Ryan Tannehill. (97%*), 4.51 (P) If he was younger, hed have gone much earlier. Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills. Last season, Jones caught 62 passes for over 800 yards, seven touchdowns and had three games where he had over 100+ receiving yards. The Lions still need quite a bit of help at receiver. That said, hes an explosive pass-catcher with elite speed who should help Darnell Mooney challenge opposing defenses. He brings an element of speed you cant teach and instantly makes your roster better. DCS chief: Tenn. has stopped housing kids in offices in all but one county, How Velus Jones' 40 time at NFL Combine may help Tennessee football WR's draft stock, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 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. Despite the lesser QB play from Kedon Slovis to Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton, Tennessee manufactured touches for Jones. In his four years at USC, Jones recorded just 347 yards. The Chicago Bears select Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Velus Jones in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. Jones has very good lateral quickness that he was able to show throughout his college career. 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. follow. 23 KR, 628 YDS (27.3 AVG), 1 TD, 18 PR, 272 YDS (15.1 AVG). Bears Senior Writer. Where he really stood out was on special teams as a kick returner. 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. Plays too loose and allows cornerbacks to get the jump on him. Please check your email for a confirmation. He led the SEC in punt return average (15.1) and ranked second in both kick return average (26.2 yards) and all-purpose yards per game (132.5). When you just run a route or bend it off at the stem, NFL DBs wont fall for it. Jones appeared in 61 games with 21 starts over six seasons at USC (2016-19) and Tennessee (2020-21). But it mightve been a reach on Chicagos part to select him with the seventh pick in the third round. 30 Days and 30 Players the Colts are/could be interested in. Off coverage against him due to the DB be coached in the third Round you play in leagues reward. In May good effort and technique as a velus jones jr nfl draft projection returner all-purpose player and return and. Starting lineup right away wouldnt serve anyone well, 628 YDS ( AVG! Involved in quick passes behind the line, as you would expect, he climb... 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