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 . After six seasons in college football, Jones was projected to be only a fourth or fifth round pick in this years NFL draft. Jones has the lateral speed that doesnt make him lose a step when running routes. 171) - 1 Round 6 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. Not a route-running specialist. As wide receiver alone, Jones may be a coin flip as an NFL player. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, was a 2021 All-SEC selection as an all-purpose player and return specialist. Throwing him into the starting lineup right away wouldnt serve anyone well. Jones generated 2.67 yards per route and a 131.0 passer rating on passes thrown his way. Did he keep them? 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. Jones returned kicks in all five seasons he played, as well as returned punts for Tennessee in 2021. Two of the three experts have him going to an NFC team in the fifth round. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and . Per maggiori informazioni sulle modalit di utilizzo dei dati, consulta la nostra Informativa sulla privacy e lInformativa sui cookie. Odds and lines subject to change. Velus Jones Jr. is one of the oldest prospects in the draft, and he didn't break out until his sixth season in college. 2 receiver in the Vols offense, ranking second on the team in receptions (62), receiving yards (807), and touchdown catches (7) while playing in all 13 games. He returned 23 kick for 628 yards, an average of 27.3 yards per return, and took one to the house. For a player to have been in college long enough to get his masters, never crossing the 1,000-yard threshold is concerning. A very old player who will be 25 by the time he takes the field in the NFL, Has a very limited route tree and the routes he did run were often rounded, Has had very limited production as a receiver throughout his college career - with the exception of 2021, Has only really played in the slot and has very little experience out wide, Not a great catch radius and his football IQ is not as high as you would like, Runs with a weird kind of stutter-step that makes his less fluid, Only offers an impact as a gadget player and a deep threat. Based on his scouting report, fantasy managers should keep their eye on these NFL franchises come draft day. After using their first two draft picks on defense, the Chicago Bears finally got quarterback Justin Fields a weapon in Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. with the 71st overall pick. Ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. provided top-25 player rankings and the top-10 prospects at every position. Uncomfortable seeing the ball in at times. There are some prospects who can run a 4.31 forty-yard dash at the NFL combine but play a lot slower in-game. 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. NFL COMBINE:How Velus Jones' 40 time at NFL Combine may help Tennessee football WR's draft stock. (4%*), 121 (C) Does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Jones showed in Senior Bowl workouts that he can adjust his body well and utilize his speed to beat defenders for catches. New Orleans has a history of going after Tennessee prospects. 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. Schedule; Podcast . 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. Introducing a new series to the site that will take us right up to draft night. Jones turns 25 in a few weeks, which turned off some teams. 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. GRADE: 6.4 (High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round). Jones was clocked as the second-fastest offensive player at the Senior Bowl, according to Zebra Technology, which measures players speed in pads while playing rather than a 40-yard dash in shorts. Knowing what he brings as a returner should endear him to head coach Dan Campbell. Those little nuances are how high-level receivers get separation. He finished as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career. So there are questions of whether he can improve much more. Returns, rushing and receiving has allowed Jones to rack up over 4,700 all-purpose yards. He would be a good pick on the third day of the draft, especially if the Saints add a more-established weapon sooner. Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, spent three years . With his teammate to his left running a stick route, Jones is one-on-one with a ton of space to the outside. 167) - 1 - Green Bay Packers (No. 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? Tracking where Velus Jones Jr. could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Jones sprinted to a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and he backs that speed up on film. 209) - 1. 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. Good contact balance with the ball in his hands. Ethan Wolf and Bryce Thompson are also returning for 2022 from the Saints practice squad. He showed progress in that area late in his college career, which is why his receiving production rose last season. He ended the season with 1,722 all-purpose yards, which was third in the SEC conference. That and his punt return work, also excellent, earned him a nod as the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021. 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. He was productive there for two seasons before transferring to Tennessee in 2020. (29%*), 74 2/8 And his role in the NFL will likely be a complimentary weapon working across from an established No. 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. Often has to throttle down to find the ball. 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 . McShay has identified the best pick for all 32 teams, stressing that it's not . Jones projects as a WR3 behind Mooney and Pringle, where the belief is Jones has an intriguing skillset but is still raw. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Velus Jones Jr. is one of the oldest prospects in the draft, and he didnt break out until his sixth season in college. As noted, Jones hands are great. Feb 28, 2023 . He brings an element of speed you cant teach and instantly makes your roster better. Tennessee footballs Velus Jones Jr. was selected by theChicago Bears in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 71st overall pick. Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, and KhaDarel Hodge are all set to become free agents in March. 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. This is why Jones will stick on an NFL roster despite likely not having high draft capital. 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. Gambling Problem? Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills. Covers a lot of ground in the short half of the field and is slippery after the catch. Jones is extremely patient when running his routes and this clip is a great example. Finally, some help for Justin Fields. March 10, 2022 10:00 am PT. As I said, its a bit of a mess in the Big Easy. (24%*), 4.31 (C) 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. This is also where things get a bit trickier from an evaluation standpoint. Check out his YAC from the 2021 season: Best Draft WRs after the catch pic.twitter.com/A46NWLmVR3, No Flags Film (@NoFlagsFilm) March 30, 2022. Oh, and how do they handle being a projected $76.16 million over the salary cap? This also helped to hide one of Jones issues, albeit a rather large one. 2, but New Orleans needs someone on the interior. Smooth runner who can switch lanes with ease in space. 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 . He finished last season as the FBS active leader with 2,973 kick return yards in his career and participated in the Senior Bowl. Please check your email for a confirmation. OVERALL. His 4.31-second 40-yard dash made him the second-fastest wide receiver at this years NFL combine. 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. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. 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. Now theyll have to figure out how hell be utilized as a weapon for quarterback Justin Fields. 0:43. But his route-running, though improved in the past year, is still seen as a weakness. 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. 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. Jones patiently waited for his opportunity to showcase his talents, resulting in a scouting report full of potential. With the NFL Draft closing in, which teams make the most sense for Jones as projected landing spots? This gave Jones more room at the line of scrimmage to start getting the ball earlier in his routes. Needs to tighten up route running. If Jones can get on an NFL team who already has a dominant X receiver, he can be a very productive complementary piece from the slot and on special teams. Velus Jones Jr. Next up is Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. Does not flash much ability to catch outside of his frame or in traffic. Plays fast and explosive. 71 overall. Off the line, as you would expect, he is lightning quick. 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. 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). Old prospect whos already 25. 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. 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. As a receiver-returner with explosive speed, quickness and burst, Jones should make his mark as a WR3/WR4 and return specialist early in his career. 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. Will Michael Thomas be back, and how close will he look to the receiver we last saw back in 2020? follow. 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. TreQuan Smith is set to become an unrestricted free agent, while Deonte Harris is a restricted FA. In his hands the oldest prospects in the Big Easy intriguing skillset but is still raw an intriguing skillset is! 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