3 over/unders for Velus Jones with Chicago Bears in 2022

1. Three touchdowns for Velus Jones as a rookie?

ESPN has Velus Jones projected for three touchdowns. The bar for all rookies in the third round was two touchdowns, but when you exclude the players who were defined busts, you would see an average of five touchdowns as a rookie wideout.

Three is probably fair, but we are going to go over it. The big reason goes back to why his yards may be less, and why his catches may be higher. Ryan Poles said the name Deebo Samuel when he drafted Jones.

That does not mean that he sees the same exact player, but it is a discussion of role. That means screens, short passes, and even the handoff or two are on the table. What that means is that when the Bears get to the red zone, you may see more Jones than when they are in between the 20s, which is when Byron Pringle may be the second wideout.

Still, his speed, and versatility, especially when running laterally in the red zone can stretch the defense and make it easier to run the football in the red zone. Those moments are exactly what they saw in Jones.

This could lead to more five-yard catches, yes, but if those five-yard catches are in the end zone, it may be what we want. Or, if it is a six-yard grab, with four yards after the catch to pick up a key first down on third down and three, that is where you should see Jones.

He is a player they will look to for money plays, and that should lead to four or five touchdowns as a rookie, maybe even one of them coming on the ground.