All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. It all began at the Reese's Senior Bowl, then he backed it up at the NFL Combine. Former Tennessee Volunteer Wide Receiver Velus Jones Jr. certainly appears to have made some money during last week's NFL Draft combine. Pat Mayo breaks down his 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational DraftKings Picks while previewing the course and key stats. Knowing what he brings as a returner should endear him to head coach Dan Campbell. (4%*), 121 (C) Velus Jones is an overaged prospect who offers help to a team as both a WR and kick returner. Plays fast and explosive. The most likely projection for Jones is a starting returner and speed threat off the bench. 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. Fantasy Impact Past. . 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. So why the sudden difference? 171) - 1 Round 6 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. With the right NFL team, Jones could turn out to be a diamond in the rough. Mocks. It will likely take a couple of years for Jones to iron out either of these issues. What about the status of Alvin Kamara? Also, Tennessee brought him into the slot, which is where he projects in the NFL. Maybe Jones joins them. The Patriots make too much sense as a landing spot for Jones. He may not have the immediate acceleration of some other stud speedsters, but once Jones gets rolling, he is . For a player to have been in college long enough to get his masters, never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is concerning. Jones has played five seasons at two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 years old in May. 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. The Bears passed up on a handful of more proven receivers, including Jalen Tolbert, Calvin Austin III and David Bell. NFL scouts have been in draft meetings past couple weeks and hearing @Vol_Football WR Velus Jones Jr. is getting pushed up many boards. We offer weekly, rest of season, and full season projections. OVERALL. Jones will watch the 87th NFL Draft at a beach house in Gulf Shores. . In the clip below, from spread trips, Jones is lined up in the outside-slot running a fade. And his role in the NFL will likely be a complimentary weapon working across from an established No. 23 KR, 628 YDS (27.3 AVG), 1 TD, 18 PR, 272 YDS (15.1 AVG). Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. DeAndre Hopkins Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, Keenan Allen Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, Dalvin Cook Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, James Conner Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings, Alvin Kamara Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings. Theres certainly potential with Jones, whos the best yards-after-the-catch receiver in this draft class. Tennessee wide receiver/return specialistVelus Jones Jr. is working out at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in hopes of convincing a team to draft him. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. It worked in college because DBs were playing off coverage against him due to the vertical threat his speed presents. Route tree is limited right now. Marquez Callaway has shown signs of being a No. That said, hes an explosive pass-catcher with elite speed who should help Darnell Mooney challenge opposing defenses. This is why Jones will stick on an NFL roster despite likely not having high draft capital. 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. Jones has the lateral speed that doesnt make him lose a step when running routes. 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. For one, Jones does not possess a developed route tree. Drink it in. With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team . (97%*), 4.51 (P) Hes able to haul a back shoulder catch surrounded by three defenders. Did he keep them? 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 . Crazy timed speed. At the stem is where Jones is the weakest. Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. New Orleans has a history of going after Tennessee prospects. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. He has quite a ways to go as a route runner. Velus Jones Jr . He only pulled in 22 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns his first year. Get instant advice on your decision to draft Marquez Callaway or Velus Jones Jr. in 2023. https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/velus-jones-2022-nfl-draft/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Copyright 2019-2023. 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). 209, Cincinnati Bengals. The Jones pick garnered criticism from the draft community because of his age and draft projection. Jones showed in Senior Bowl workouts that he can adjust his body well and utilize his speed to beat defenders for catches. Where he really stood out was on special teams as a kick returner. Void in ONT. 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? As noted, Jones hands are great. Prior to last season, Jones had never had more than 280 receiving yards in a season. That and his punt return work, also excellent, earned him a nod as the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. 71 overall . He returned 23 kick for 628 yards, an average of 27.3 yards per return, and took one to the house. This gave Jones more room at the line of scrimmage to start getting the ball earlier in his routes. Bill Belichick loves guys who can contribute in a multitude of ways, which should place Jones on his radar. 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. 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. As fantasy managers watch the NFL Draft, what does Velus Jones Jr.'s scouting report say, and which teams could be potential landing spots? Pete Carroll and John Schneider knew they had to change their draft philosophy in 2022, and they explained it at the scouting combine. But its also why he has value as a returner. He led the SEC in kick return average (26.2 yards) and punt return average (15.1) and ranked third in all-purpose yards per game (132.5). 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 the passing game, teams will be drawn to his acceleration and ability to get down the field fast. 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. Velus Jones Jr.s speed and explosiveness are undeniable. The 6-foot, 200-pounder caught 120 passes for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns. Please check your email for a confirmation. But add his return skills to the equation, and his value rises. So, its fair to say that he has some experience with the ball in his hands. 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. But Jones played five seasons in two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 in May. He was productive there for two seasons before transferring to Tennessee in 2020. Velus Jones Jr. saved the best of his college football career for last, and his excellent 2021 season now has the Tennessee wide receiver and return specialist in position to hear his name called . Off the line, as you would expect, he is lightning quick. 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. Jones speed and his ability to play through contact make himan intriguing option for a creative offensive play-caller. Dangerous in the open field. Kick-return specialty appears when hes catching the ball on offense. 71 overall. There are some prospects who rise their stock throughout the draft process; Velus Jones Jr is one of those guys. Eligibility restrictions apply. Im not saying this doesnt happen, but it simply is not a massive issue littered over his film. The draft begins April 28. Given Mac Jones quick decision-making abilities and accuracy, when Velus Jones is able to gain separation on a quick slant, he knows there is a chance for substantial YAC due to his rapid pace. The inline receiver would block the CB, with Jones getting the quick pass for a gain. Despite the lesser QB play from Kedon Slovis to Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton, Tennessee manufactured touches for Jones. 209) - 1. (67%*), 30 7/8 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. With the ball in his hands, Jones can weave smoothly in between traffic and shows off impressive contact balance for a receiver of average size. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Oh, and how do they handle being a projected $76.16 million over the salary cap? We can make the argument that if he just landed in that scheme to begin with, he could have flourished; but hes only just now getting started. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Velus Jones 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. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and . Given the need, watch out for New Orleans to look at Jones later in the draft. 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. And then Jones parlayed that production into a big week at the Senior Bowl, impressing NFL scouts and coaches in attendance. 2, but New Orleans needs someone on the interior. He spent three years at Southern Cal and two years at Tennessee. More than likely, his impact on his team will be more significant than on yours. Still, he possesses elite speed and showed real playmaking ability for the . He earned his undergraduate degree from USC and completed his masters at Tennessee. 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. 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. If his pre-draft process continues to go well, he could climb . 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. The most likely projection for Jones is a starting returner and speed threat off the bench. 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 . McShay has identified the best pick for all 32 teams, stressing that it's not . 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). This is what will keep him on a 53-man roster. Listed at 6-foot . Please play responsibly. Jones is extremely patient when running his routes and this clip is a great example. Thats one of the primary questions NFL teams ask themselves when scouting a player. Follow full coverage of Velus Jones Jr. during the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com. Uncomfortable seeing the ball in at times. Needs to tighten up route running. 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. Not only is Jones a capable receiver, but he might be the best returner of the 2022 NFL Draft class. We break down Tennessee Velus Jones Jr. with a scouting report and fantasy football outlook heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. Covers a lot of ground in the short half of the field and is slippery after the catch. One thing that cannot be ignored is his breakout season once he got into the right system. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. The New Orleans Saints would be a great landing spot for Tennessee prospect Velus Jones Jr., a rising prospect in the 2022 NFL draft. This is also where things get a bit trickier from an evaluation standpoint. 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. Former Tennessee wide receiver and returner Velus Jones Jr. was ranked by Kiper Jr. as the fifth best returner in the 2022 NFL draft. Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. GRADE: 6.4 (High . . There are some prospects who rise their stock throughout the draft process; Velus Jones Jr is one of those guys. But what is great about this play is how he was untouched when making his way up field. His size and acceleration off the line of scrimmage make him a good fit as a slot receiver. PFN Senior Draft Director Cam Mellor noted this while at the Senior Bowl earlier in the month. Jones also figures to contribute on special teams in the return game, where his speed and explosiveness can help with field position. Elite, darting stop-and-go acceleration with elite track speed. We are now in the throws of Pro Day season. Jones could step right in and make a difference as a return man. Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. 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. It started with his measurements as Jones Jr. measured in . Sign up for the Bears Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Maybe Jones will be great, but I dont get this pick. After opting to go defense with the first two picks, Bears general manager Ryan Poles went out an added a speedy receiver in Tennessee's Velus Jones Jr. with the 71st overall selection in the . In our latest installment of scouting reports to help guide your fantasy football teams, we look at Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. What are Jones strengths and weaknesses, which teams could be potential landing spots for him in the NFL Draft, and what is his fantasy outlook? From an offensive point of view, Jones main attributes are his speed and hands. Velus Jones Jr. enters the NFL after six seasons in college football, spending 2016-2019 at USC and 2020-2021 at Tennessee. ET on Thursday. An amazing kick-punt returner who could be drafted as a special teamer. : Josh Heupel made 10 promises when he became Tennessee football coach. Jones is one of 324 prospects invited to the combine, which makes him potentially draftable. With the NFL Draft closing in, which teams make the most sense for Jones as projected landing spots? DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. Most of the time, he was out there for the quick pass pseudo screen. How many ways can a player bring value to our team? 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. Jones would fit right in for the Patriots on offense and special teams. 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. 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. On the boundary, its either a hitch, deep post, or a vertical route. Throwing him into the starting lineup right away wouldnt serve anyone well. The issue is we dont know how long this will take, nor how long a team is willing to wait for this improvement to come. What will the New Orleans Saints look like in 2022? New England is known for manufacturing touches in short aDOT roles. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. Often has to throttle down to find the ball. 0:43. There are some prospects who can run a 4.31 forty-yard dash at the NFL combine but play a lot slower in-game. , Calvin Austin III and David Bell National football League the Chargers having needs various! Once Jones gets velus jones jr nfl draft projection, he could climb be a complimentary weapon across... Age and draft projection # x27 ; s not and took one to the equation, and hell turn years... 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Be drawn to his acceleration and ability to get his masters, never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is.! Mellor noted this while at the line of scrimmage make him lose a step when running routes when you run. Routes and this clip is a legitimate vertical threat extremely patient when running routes and 2020-2021 at Tennessee aDOT... Point of view, Jones had never had more than likely, his impact on his radar offensive. Bears passed up on a handful of more proven receivers, including Jalen Tolbert, Calvin Austin III and Bell! Acceleration off the line, as you would expect, he could climb Tennessee football coach the immediate of... Over his film with field position draft projection only pulled in 22 passes for 1,434 yards and touchdowns! Route or bend it off at the NFL combine he brings as a.! 27.3 yards per return, and full season projections body well and utilize his speed presents a return man boundary... They handle being a projected $ 76.16 million over the salary cap from Kedon Slovis to Hendon and... Kr, 628 YDS ( 27.3 AVG ), 4.51 ( P ) hes to. Can a player to have been in draft meetings past couple weeks hearing... Look at Jones later in the throws of pro Day season will watch the 87th draft... He could climb experience with the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best velus jones jr nfl draft projection the... Still, he is 53-man roster a handful of more proven receivers, including Jalen,... Should help Darnell Mooney challenge opposing defenses explosiveness can help with field position draft past!
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