Willing to go up and attack the ball. It all began at the Reeses Senior Bowl, then he backed it up at the NFL Combine. In all likelihood, in most standard leagues, Jones wont be on the fantasy radar this season. Scouting Report: Summary. Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. It takes little time for him to accelerate and stack a corner. 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 . 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. Jones' speed and yards-after-catch potential are worth trying to develop at wide receiver, though that may be a longshot for someone set to be 25-years-old as a rookie. 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. Jones may not be ready to play offense out of the gate, but he can be a team's starting kick and punt returner instantly. And then Jones parlayed that production into a big week at the Senior Bowl, impressing NFL scouts and coaches in attendance. Copyright 2019-2023. 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. Sign up for the Saints Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, spent three years at Southern Cal and two years at Tennessee. From an offensive point of view, Jones main attributes are his speed and hands. But its also why he has value as a returner. 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. TreQuan Smith is set to become an unrestricted free agent, while Deonte Harris is a restricted FA. The most likely projection for Jones is a starting returner and speed threat off the bench. 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. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. As noted, Jones hands are great. 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. Does well to separate down the field. Jones is extremely patient when running his routes and this clip is a great example. Former Tennessee Volunteer Wide Receiver Velus Jones Jr. certainly appears to have made some money during last week's NFL Draft combine. Jones speed, elusiveness and acceleration make him a good fit as a slot receiver. Jones would fit right in for the Patriots on offense and special teams. Velus Jones Jr.'s first NFL TD come via Herculean pylon reach. There are some prospects who rise their stock throughout the draft process; Velus Jones Jr is one of those guys. Throughout the game, once Jones beat several defenders deep, the defensive-backs tend to take a couple steps back pre-snap. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/bears-velus-jones-jr-nfl-draft-2022-expert-grades/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The NFL . 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. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds, the second-fastest among wide receivers and fourth-fastest among all participants at the NFL Scouting Combine. His experience fielding kickoffs (hes returned 122 of them in 59 college games) should also help his case. 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. That said, hes an explosive pass-catcher with elite speed who should help Darnell Mooney challenge opposing defenses. That and his punt return work, also excellent, earned him a nod as the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). Draft Stock & Draft Projection. Larry Mayer. follow. But what is great about this play is how he was untouched when making his way up field. Returns, rushing and receiving has allowed Jones to rack up over 4,700 all-purpose yards. (4%*), 121 (C) PROMISES KEPT? Jones generated 2.67 yards per route and a 131.0 passer rating on passes thrown his way. Bears Senior Writer. The draft begins April 28. Chargers Scouting Report: Tennessee WR Velus Jones Jr. Cole Topham. 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. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. Marquez Callaway has shown signs of being a No. With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team . He spent six years in college four at USC and two more 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. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine NFL DRAFT STOCK REPORT: Why Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays' draft stock is unpredictable at NFL Scouting Combine. 209) - 1. Plays too loose and allows cornerbacks to get the jump on him. . This also helped to hide one of Jones issues, albeit a rather large one. He finished last season as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career and participated in the Senior Bowl. They also addressed a need on special teams by nabbing arguably the best returner in college football, who averaged 132.5 all purpose-yards per game in 2021. Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. WR Velus Jones Jr.: NFL Draft scouting report and fantasy football profile, Fantasy Basketball Picks: Top DraftKings NBA DFS Plays for March 1. The New Orleans Saints would be a great landing spot for Tennessee prospect Velus Jones Jr., a rising prospect in the 2022 NFL draft. The Jones pick garnered criticism from the draft community because of his age and draft projection. This leaves Amon-Ra St. Brown and Quintez Cephus as the primary options for Jared Goff (not including TE T.J. Hockenson). Clicca su Gestisci impostazioni per maggiori informazioni e per gestire le tue scelte. But the team missed its opportunity to find a legit target earlier in the process. New England is known for manufacturing touches in short aDOT roles. Get instant advice on your decision to draft Marquez Callaway or Velus Jones Jr. in 2023. 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. Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. Jones ranked 182nd on Bruglers big board. Jones appeared in 61 games with 21 starts over six seasons at USC (2016-19) and Tennessee (2020-21). Uncomfortable seeing the ball in at times. 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. Finally, the Chicago Bears got some wide receiver help for quarterback Justin Fields. 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 . We are now in the throws of Pro Day season. Top gear can separate from anyone. Ethan Wolf and Bryce Thompson are also returning for 2022 from the Saints practice squad. How many ways can a player bring value to our team? Elite, darting stop-and-go acceleration with elite track speed. It worked in college because DBs were playing off coverage against him due to the vertical threat his speed presents. Last year, as a receiver, he caught 62 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. Tracking where Velus Jones Jr. could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. 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. Former Tennessee speedster Velus Jones Jr. revealed he was in Green Bay on Tuesday, April 5 when he shared a . Jones versatility should get his foot in the NFL door. He was an effective No. The 6-foot, 200-pounder caught 120 passes for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wide receiver was Chicagos biggest weakness ahead of the NFL draft, where Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle were the teams top wideouts. Based on his scouting report, fantasy managers should keep their eye on these NFL franchises come draft day. Doesnt quite play to that level. He thrived in the no-huddle offense where he was primarily running routes out of the slot. (24%*), 4.31 (C) May 01, 2022 at 11:30 AM. Jones burst well after the catch but needs work to be trusted in an expanded capacity. 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 fakes to the inside and gets open shortly after the sticks. Former Tennessee wide receiver and returner Velus Jones Jr. was ranked by Kiper Jr. as the fifth best returner in the 2022 NFL draft. So there's a question of whether he can improve much more or if he's close to his ceiling. Where he really stood out was on special teams as a kick returner. Drink it in. 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. His speed brings an element most teams are not ready for defensively. 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. Velus (pronounced VAY-lus) Jones Jr.'s path to the 2022 NFL Draft went through Alabama, Southern California, and Tennessee. Jones projects as a WR3 for the Bears behind Darnell Mooney and Byron Pringle. Jones Jr. leaves college football after assembling his best season where his role in the offense led to the most opportunities for his . Jones has played five seasons at two premier Power 5 programs, and hell turn 25 years old in May. 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. 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. Mocks. The speed, hands, and body control are there, as is a willingness to play a bit nasty when blocking or giving a CB an extra pop at the whistle. Matt Eberflus on ideal prospects: 'They have to have a love for the game' | Press Conference. More than likely, his impact on his team will be more significant than on yours. The Bears were looking for speed and they found it in Jones, who ran a 4.31-second 40-yard dash. If his pre-draft process continues to go well, he could climb . Most of the time, he was out there for the quick pass pseudo screen. Jones has excellent speed (ran 4.31), but this is a head-scratching pick by the Bears. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. But his route-running, though improved in the past year, is still seen as a weakness. Velus Jones Jr . Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, and KhaDarel Hodge are all set to become free agents in March. We offer recommendations from over 100 fantasy football experts! GRADE: 6.4 (High . Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and he backs that speed up on film. 0:43. Ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. provided top-25 player rankings and the top-10 prospects at every position. Jones is one of 324 prospects invited to the combine, which makes him potentially draftable. April 4, 2022 7:52 am ET. 9 3/4 Velus Jones Jr.s speed and explosiveness are undeniable. 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. DATABASE. There is a path where he turns into the next Van Jefferson, as long as we see a marked improvement in his route running to get him to a similar level. One thing that cannot be ignored is his breakout season once he got into the right system. So, its fair to say that he has some experience with the ball in his hands. 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). 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). It started with his measurements as Jones Jr. measured in . 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. 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