Information
for this report was obtained from NFL scouts.
Julio Jones was the sixth pick in the draft. The Falcons gave up two first-round picks, a second-round pick and two other picks to move up to take him.
In exhibitions, Jones did not play like a rookie. He has been a starter from the first snap of camp and appears ready to make a significant contribution early. Jones had some drops when he played for Alabama, but that has not been an issue so far in the NFL.
What makes him rare is his combination of size, strength and speed. He is nearly 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. He runs routes with the athleticism of a much smaller receiver. Jones can go deep or get open underneath coming out of his breaks quickly and smoothly. He is physical in a crowd, and he likes to block.
The best way to cover him may be to press him and challenge him to get off the line. Giving him a free release could be asking for trouble. Cover-2 might be more effective against Jones than man-to-man, as he will be a mismatch against most cornerbacks.
