NFL Draft 2011: Julio Jones NFL Draft Profile for the Seattle Seahawks

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Julio Jones 2011 NFL Draft profile for the Seattle Seahawks.

Every so often, we’ll be doing entries that are simply draft profiles notable to all teams in the NFC West. This, Julio Jones’, is one such profile.

Player: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Age: 22

Height: 6’2 3/4”

Weight: 220

2010 Stats: 78 rec. for 1,133 yards (14.5 avg.) and 7 TD.

Career Stats: 179 rec. for 2,653 yards (14.8 avg.) and 15 TD.

Strengths: Elite size and strength to go along with very good speed—he’s just a terror after the catch.

Played in a pro-style offense, impossible to press at the line because of he’s so strong, and is a fantastic and willing run blocker.

Battle-tested; played and succeeded for three years against top competition in the SEC.

Was just a monster at the combine—he long jumped 11’3”, vertical jumped 38.5”, and ran the 40 as fast as 4.34 (although he doesn’t play quite that fast).

Weaknesses: Has a tendency to run before securing the ball, and as a result he’ll drop some catchable passes.

Though he’s improved substantially throughout his career, Jones is still an inconsistent route runner.

Though you wouldn’t know it from his combine performance, he’s not really an elite deep threat. He’s fast, but he won’t outrun most NFL corners. (In his defense, he may run over them.)

On March 7th, Jones underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. His recovery is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks, thus having no practical effects on his pro career.

Perspectives:

Rob Rang, via ESPN:

There were times when teams gave Julio Jones the deep ball and he couldn't get deep and really scare teams. His quarterback, Greg McElroy, doesn't have a huge arm, so some might say the defense just doesn’t respect McElroy’s deep ball. Still, there were times when good cover corners, at least capable collegiate cover corners, could stick with Julio Jones. They were breaking on his out routes. They were basically in his hip pocket. Was that a function of Julio Jones not having the explosiveness to get out of his routes and create some separation, or doesn't he have the straight-line speed to scare defenses? Or is it McElroy's inability to throw the football? That is why there is some nervousness.

Peter King, SI.com:

Jones has narrowed the gap between himself and Green to the point where I'm told by two teams with receiver needs that they favor Jones. Draft czar Gil Brandt says, "The gap has closed. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jones picked ahead of Green at this point.''

Marvin Lewis, via Peter King: "A.J. has demonstrated acrobatic catching ability. They both have a big catching radius. Julio has been a tenacious blocker. The question is, what do you value most?''

Why he’s a fit for Seattle:

Well, he’s of interest to Seattle, and he’d certainly be a fit…

That said, the only reason this profile exists—one focusing specifically on Jones and the Seahawks—is because I’m trying to give equal coverage to all my NFC West homies and figured those in Seattle would like to read up on Julio too.

Short of what would presume to be a depleting trade into the top ten, Julio Jones is not headed to Seattle.

Pete Carroll desperately needs to find a faster receiver, a true number one, to take some of that pressure off Mike Williams, to give whoever is quarterbacking the team a fighting chance.

The Seahawks will be looking for a receiver in the mold of Julio Jones, and “the mold” is what they’ll likely have to settle for.

(Check out this week's Seattle Seahawks Draft Blog.)

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