Velus Jones Jr. will be given every chance to have a productive rookie season for the Chicago Bears in 2022. The third-round pick from Tennessee offers an electrifying skill set for offensive coordinator Luke Getsy to utilize, and with the Bears’ lack of established veteran wide receivers, Jones could become a gem in his first year in the league.
There isn’t a lot not to like about Jones entering this season. Most critics point to his advanced age — he’s a 25-year-old rookie — as a factor working against him. It’s true that college prospects who breakout at an older age aren’t always safe picks, but Jones is in a unique situation. He’s going to play right away in Chicago. The fact Jones is already in his mid-20s sort of tracks with where a player of his age should be who will have his responsibilities in 2022.
“It is a benefit because I’m coming in with maturity,” Jones said after the 2022 NFL Draft. “I’m all about my business. I was young, but now that I’m older, I realize what’s at stake, and this is the best job in the world.”