The Chicago Bears made some roster moves on Friday in anticipation of several names returning from Injured Reserve. Two prominent players were released to clear spots. One was fullback Khari Blasingame, who found a reduced role in Shane Waldron’s new offense. Health setbacks probably didn’t help his case, either. By far the bigger story is the one joining him on the way out. Velus Jones, the team’s former 3rd round pick in 2022, was also cut. This is something fans have pushed for going back a year, feeling the wide receiver wasn’t doing anything to earn his spot. At last, the experiment is over.
GM Ryan Poles was a big fan of Jones coming out of Tennessee, loving his mix of size and speed. Despite being on the older side for a draft prospect, it was felt he had the versatility to be a weapon for the Bears offense. Though Jones became a fixture as a kick returner, his constant failure to consistently catch the ball haunted him. He suffered from multiple drops on offense and multiple muffs on punt returns. His strong preseason led many in the organization to hope he was turning a corner. Then, a brutal muff on a kickoff against the Titans sealed his fate. He was benched in favor of DeAndre Carter and never got playing time again.
One key fact makes this Chicago Bears move even worse.
Hard Knocks revealed that Poles had been getting calls from other teams about a trade for Jones. The GM chose to pass, too encouraged by what he’d seen in the preseason. No doubt he wishes he’d taken advantage of that opportunity. Plenty of Chicago Bears fans are sure to let him hear about it in the coming weeks. No team bats perfect in the draft. There will always be misfires. The frustrating part about Jones is many didn’t feel he was worth going that high, even at the time. He was too old and too unproven. Abraham Lucas, Brian Robinson, Kerby Joseph, and Romeo Doubs were all names that went after him. Hopefully Poles took a lesson from this blunder.
Each of us has his opinions and biases — but while most of Erik Lambert’s avid readers focus (and rely) mainly on past performance — I will continue to “warn about the future” with your kind indulgence. I told you (in advance) and provided valid reasons why veteran players such as Lucas Patrick, Alex Leatherwood, Nate “Where’s Waldo?” Davis and others should not have been pursued and acquired by Poles, at any cost. I also mentioned (in advance) that in the third round of each of Ryan Poles’ NFL drafts, there were better selections to be made than: Velus Jones… Read more »
For me it’s too bad he’s gone. Seemed like he looked ok at running back, maybe a Corradele(?) type perhaps. Wonder if he couldn’t pick up on routes or plays, just seems like he could have found a niche. Pity about the 3rd rounder too, likely coulda’ had a guard or center coached up and starting by now.
@Barry You are correct and better than others give you credit for. The apologists for Poles’ numerous errors are out in full force as usual. Because this site is for the masses, we cannot win, which is okay. But we are growing in number. Which is a good thing. Keep on thinking free(ly).
2 days after that ’22 draft, Poles cut ties with the director of college scouting (Sadowski), scouting coordinator (Macedo), and a national scout who called his Brisker pick “PHD-poor, hungry, and desperate”(Prescott).
I’m not an apologist, but Poles came from the team that took a RS in the 5th round, and then put him on the JUGs machine. They liked that T. Hill could line up anywhere as an explosive threat. Velus had similar speed, but was 15 lbs heavier. It’s a risk vs reward pick. I’ve moved on.
OK. Jones is gone.
Poles made a bad decision drafting him, and a worse one not trading him when the opportunity was there. You know what? I’m still pleased.
Velus Jones – and Poles’ inability to move off him – was one of the reasons I had listed on the side of the ledger that is titled, “Reasons Poles Might Not Be the Guy.”
Poles saw the light at the end of the tunnel, realized it was a train, and got out of the way. One down. It’s progress. Don’t knock it.