Name: WR Julio Jones
School: Alabama
Size: 6'3, 220 lbs
Expected Round: Top 15
40 Time: 4.39s
Career Stats: Click Here.
Player Previews: CBS; Walter Football; NFL Combine [If you would like your website included, please e-mail me!]
Strengths: Elite size and speed combination with fantastic body control and awareness on the field. Used all over the field as a receiver and is a solid route runner. He comes out of his breaks quickly to gain separation. Used in some timing based routes, which is a bonus. Physical player who can outmuscle any defender and also has toughness to play through injury. Willing run blocker and opens lanes on the outside. Great at YAC. Quick and explosive player who also moonlights as a returnman.
Weaknesses: Reports say that he sometimes loses concentration and drops passes. I haven't seen much of that. Sometimes he lets the ball get to him, as opposed to plucking it out of the air, but if he became more aggressive he might catch a higher percentage of passes. Most "drops" come from cornerback contact, so the sooner he grabs the ball, the better. He's still a raw talent so he's not completely polished.
Why and Why Not the Patriots after the jump, and my final verdict!
Why the Patriots?: Julio Jones is not just one of the best receivers in the draft, he's one of the best prospects. He has the combination of size, speed, body control, upside, production and much, much more that makes every front office want him on their team. He comes from a Nick Saban team, which means that he knows what is demanded on a Belichick roster. He's a hard worker who plays through pain and he'd be an immediate threat on offense. He's be the perfect weapon to add to the offense.
Why Not the Patriots?: He's not dropping to #17. He might not drop out of the top 10. Even though he's such a great offensive talent, the Patriots have too many other needs to sell the draft to move up to potentially #6 to nab Jones. The combination of price and other needs are the only reason why I can think of.
Verdict: I really like Jones for the Patriots. A lot. It won't happen because he won't be around, but I could definitely see him bringing an aspect to this offense that not even Randy Moss had- a physical do-everything receiver. Moss was a gasser who was a monster down the field. Jones can be a monster everywhere on the field. Unfortunately, I don't see the Patriots making the move up to grab Jones.
Aaron Aloysius over at Draft Breakdown has made a nice prospect video of Julio Jones. There aren't any public videos on YouTube of entire games. Go watch the video to see a great take on Jones.
Here's another video: