Yahoo fa parte della famiglia di brand di Yahoo. Jones Jr. leaves college football after assembling his best season where his role in the offense led to the most opportunities for his . 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. We offer weekly, rest of season, and full season projections. And then Jones parlayed that production into a big week at the Senior Bowl, impressing NFL scouts and coaches in attendance. Jones has very high production after initial contact. 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. PFN Senior Draft Director Cam Mellor noted this while at the Senior Bowl earlier in the month. Hes an unpolished route runner, but hes one of the best run-after-the-catch wideouts in this draft class. He has quite a ways to go as a route runner. Mocks. Has decent hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. An impressive athlete with very quick acceleration to reach his top speed quickly and stretch the field. Puoi cambiare le tue preferenze in qualunque momento nella sezione Le tue impostazioni per la privacy. Jones does offer immediate special teams value, though. Often has to throttle down to find the ball. WR Velus Jones Jr.: NFL Draft scouting report and fantasy football profile, Fantasy Basketball Picks: Top DraftKings NBA DFS Plays for March 1. 71 overall. Former Tennessee speedster Velus Jones Jr. revealed he was in Green Bay on Tuesday, April 5 when he shared a . 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. Introducing a new series to the site that will take us right up to draft night. 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. Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills. 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). Velus Jones is an overaged prospect who offers help to a team as both a WR and kick returner. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/bears-velus-jones-jr-nfl-draft-2022-expert-grades/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. (24%*), 4.31 (C) So there are questions of whether he can improve much more. 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. Good contact balance with the ball in his hands. The Bears passed up on a handful of more proven receivers, including Jalen Tolbert, Calvin Austin III and David Bell. Next up is Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. Jones burst well after the catch but needs work to be trusted in an expanded capacity. He ended the season with 1,722 all-purpose yards, which was third in the SEC conference. 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. (50%*), Drafted: ROUND: 3 - Pick Number: 71 (CHI), (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance), SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. GRADE: 6.4 (High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round). 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. All Rights Reserved. Jones played at University of Southern California for two years then transferred to the University of Tennessee in 2020. Velus Jones Jr. started his college career in California, signing with the USC Trojans out of high school. He spent six years in college four at USC and two more at Tennessee. As fantasy managers watch the NFL Draft, what does Velus Jones Jr.'s scouting report say, and which teams could be potential landing spots? Please check your email for a confirmation. The Bears shouldnt have passed on George Pickens twice, and Jones wont give this offense the size it needs at wide receiver. Still, he possesses elite speed and showed real playmaking ability for the . 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. Bears Senior Writer. New Orleans has a history of going after Tennessee prospects. At the stem is where Jones is the weakest. Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. With the right NFL team, Jones could turn out to be a diamond in the rough. Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. Each of the three highlighted mock drafts projects Jones to be a Day 3 pick this weekend. 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 . One of their top ways to get Jones the ball was to stack him and another receiver on the far boundary. What will the offense look like without Sean Payton? The Bears were looking for speed and they found it in Jones, who ran a 4.31-second 40-yard dash. The draft begins April 28. Even with the defender lined up seven yards off the line of scrimmage, Jones can still make a move without losing a step in-stride after coming out of his release. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, spent three years . follow. 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. Jones projects as a WR3 behind Mooney and Pringle, where the belief is Jones has an intriguing skillset but is still raw. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst couldn't have made it more clear at the scouting combine: He wants Jordan Love to play more. He finished last season as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career and participated in the Senior Bowl. (4%*), 121 (C) Special with the ball in his hands. Head coach Matt Eberflus addresses the media on Tuesday during the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. The only thing that fantasy managers care about is what Jones does on the offensive side of the ball. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and he backs that speed up on film. And by not taking a receiver in Round 2, or an offensive lineman before Round 5, the Bears . Feb 28, 2023 . Follow full coverage of Velus Jones Jr. during the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com. This is also where things get a bit trickier from an evaluation standpoint. Velus Jones Jr. is one of the oldest prospects in the draft, and he didn't break out until his sixth season in college. Listed at 6-foot . 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 . While he would start as a WR4, there is a path where Jones could see utilization quickly in Detroit. 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 . Past. 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. 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. He would be a good pick on the third day of the draft, especially if the Saints add a more-established weapon sooner. Per maggiori informazioni sulle modalit di utilizzo dei dati, consulta la nostra Informativa sulla privacy e lInformativa sui cookie. 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. 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. Clicca su Gestisci impostazioni per maggiori informazioni e per gestire le tue scelte. Draft Stock & Draft Projection. TreQuan Smith is set to become an unrestricted free agent, while Deonte Harris is a restricted FA. But the team missed its opportunity to find a legit target earlier in the process. Velus Jones Jr.s speed and explosiveness are undeniable. It worked in college because DBs were playing off coverage against him due to the vertical threat his speed presents. Oh, and how do they handle being a projected $76.16 million over the salary cap? Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Plays too loose and allows cornerbacks to get the jump on him. Jones appeared in 61 games with 21 starts over six seasons at USC (2016-19) and Tennessee (2020-21). When you just run a route or bend it off at the stem, NFL DBs wont fall for it. 255, Los Angeles Chargers, Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): No. 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. Willing to go up and attack the ball. All rights reserved. Throughout the game, once Jones beat several defenders deep, the defensive-backs tend to take a couple steps back pre-snap. DATABASE. (97%*), 4.51 (P) As a returner he is elite and will likely make an impact early, however, he is somewhat limited as a wide receiver where he is very raw and only really offers anything as a deep threat and as a speed threat in the screen game. Given the need, watch out for New Orleans to look at Jones later in the draft. Jones turns 25 in a few weeks, which turned off some teams. . Smooth runner who can switch lanes with ease in space. But add his return skills to the equation, and his value rises. 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 all began at the Reeses Senior Bowl, then he backed it up at the NFL Combine. Jones (6 feet, 204) had 62 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns last season. In 2021, Jones had 62 receptions for 807 yards and seven TDs for the Vols in the best season of his career. 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