NFL Trade Rumors
Few players have packed as much action into as little time as former Raiders and Patriots CB Jack Jones, with high highs and low lows. For example, his next team will be his third in four years despite seven interceptions, 27 pass deflections and four defensive touchdowns in that same timespan.
It speaks volumes that both New England and Las Vegas were willing to move on from Jones abruptly despite the impressive production and play-making ability. Jones has built an impressive highlight tape, but his down-to-down consistency has been lacking. He’s been a loose cannon off the field as well, getting booted by the Patriots in his second season with the team for a weapons charge (though it was later dismissed) and team rules violations like missing curfew on road trips.
The Raiders cut Jones a couple of months ago because he didn’t fit the mold the new regime was looking for at the position and because he hit an escalator in his salary for playing time in his first few years that bumped his compensation well above $3 million. No team claimed him on waivers, partially due to the salary, partially due to the reputation Jones has already accrued as a difficult locker room presence.
Jones’ upside is also a little more limited by his age. He was a wild child in college and it delayed his progress to the league. Jones was dismissed from USC going into his junior year due to poor grades and an arrest for burglary. He spent a year at a junior college to rehabilitate his grades, then transferred to Arizona State. He was 25 years old when the Patriots drafted him and turns 28 in December. Cornerback is a young man’s game, and while Jones is a young player, he’s not necessarily a young man by NFL standards.
Still, the big plays should catch the eye of a few teams around the NFL who are desperate for help at cornerback and willing to roll the dice. I wouldn’t expect Jones to cost much more than the veteran minimum with perhaps a couple of incentives to sweeten the deal and minimal guarantees. Essentially, he’d have a chance to compete for a spot in camp with minimal risk if things don’t work out. If Jones behaves and continues to get his hands on the football on defense, there could be some real upside for a team.
Jones, 27, earned an honorable mention for All-Pac-12 honors in 2021 and also received an All-Pac-12 selection in 2020. He was drafted with the No. 121 pick in the fourth round by the Patriots in the 2022 draft.
Jones signed a four-year deal worth $4,406,983 that included a signing bonus of $746,983. He was in the second year of the deal when the Patriots waived him midseason after multiple rules violations. The Raiders claimed Jones off waivers.
He was entering the final year of his rookie contract and set to make a little over $3 million for the 2025...
