Charlie Jones NFL Draft Overview
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 175 lbs.
School: Purdue
Charlie Jones 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Charlie Jones broke out in the 2022 college season, cementing himself as Purdue’s #1 receiver despite being there only one year. Jones was a two-star recruit out of Illinois and initially chose MAC school Buffalo. He didn’t play much in his freshman year but had nearly 400 yards on just 18 catches and added three touchdowns. After that season, he decided to transfer to Iowa and sat out all of 2019 with the transfer rules still in effect. His first year at Iowa was the shortened 2020 season, where he got virtually no playing time. He had 0 catches in that second season, but one of his other helpful skills–kick and punt returns–developed that year. He returned 22 punts for an average of just over 10 yards per attempt.
But Jones started gaining recognition in his third season (senior year). He had a measly 21 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns, but also returned 37 punts and 25 kicks (had an average of over 25 yards per attempt). He decided to transfer once more to Purdue to play out his fifth season granted by the COVID year. This is where he really broke out into one of college football’s best receivers. In 2022, Jones had 110 receptions (first in FBS), 1361 yards (second in FBS), and 12 touchdowns (tied for fifth in the nation). He helped lead an otherwise-poor Purdue offense to a Big Ten Championship Game appearance against Michigan. In that game, he had 13 catches for 162 yards against some decent Wolverine cornerbacks.
He was a proven, good receiver in the Big Ten, but his lonely one year of complete production, along with some other things, are causes for concern.
Strengths
- Boasts decent speed, running a 4.43 40 and having decent acceleration;
- Great short route-runner;
- Able to make the fundamental catches, move the chains;
- Decent with deep/contested balls despite smaller frame;
- Has success and experience with punt, kick returns.
Weaknesses
- Often lacks in on-the-line physicality, doesn’t always break out of press or man coverages;
- Smaller and shorter frame has obvious downsides;
- Doesn’t boast a complete, well-rounded juke/cut menu;
- Concerns of long productivity, with only one year as a starter.
NFL Comparison: Diontae Johnson
Projection: Mid Rounds (Round 3-5)
Teams With Need At Position: Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints
Bottom Line on Charlie Jones
Jones’ play style is very similar to that of Steelers’ wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Both are quick, fast, and agile receivers who are smaller but still have good skills. Jones is not very popular, likely because he only had one year of great success at Purdue. But I’ll tell it to you straight and simple: he can play and he is a good receiver. Guys don’t magically end with over 100 catches and 12 touchdowns in one year, especially in a rather deficient offense. Jones is great in the short game, especially on routes like ins/outs, slants, drags, and zigs. He is very agile and also very dependable, as he had only six drops in his college career.
I personally think Jones has some unreal talent and athleticism to be a mid-round pick. He is definitely not the best receiver in the class and probably isn’t in the top five either, but he’s still solid all-around. I think he’ll go in the mid-rounds of the draft, probably in the fourth or fifth rounds to a team looking for a dependable second or slot option. His flashy athleticism and route running make him a dependable target but a few concerns are certainly tanking his stock. Regardless of his up-and-down career, Jones proved he’s among the best college football receivers and showed he can be multi-faceted in the kick and punt return game too.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
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