When Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce managed to bring his long-time affiliate Jack Jones to Sin City in 2023, Raider Nation was unsure what to expect. But after a dominant seven-week stretch where Jones held opposing quarterbacks to a 54.5% completion percentage when targeting him, securing two interceptions and an additional pass-breakup, fans were sold.
The Raiders had a new starting cornerback on their hands.
Well, for the 2024 season, at least. On Sunday afternoon, Las Vegas’ new regime of Pete Carroll and Spytek made it known that Jones won’t be returning for the team’s ’25 campaign–a move that had been expected since before the NFL’s new year began.
The prediction of Las Vegas moving on from Jones was largely based on his questioned effort and overall character concerns that Pete Carroll, who unlike Antonio Pierce isn’t a long-time affiliate of Jones, wouldn’t stand for. Jones’ disappointing ’24 campaign certainly didn’t help, either.
This past season, the 27-year-old broke up 10 passes while allowing a completion percentage of 65.9% when targeted. That was the second-lowest mark any cornerback in Sin City was responsible for in 2024. Add three interceptions, and you get a solid campaign from the Arizona State alum.
But it’s not all good. When Jones did allow completions, they were generally disastrous.
With 10 touchdowns given up, no cornerback in the entirety of the NFL allowed more scores than Jones in 2024. This gave him a team-high allowed quarterback rating of 115.8.
The search for another cornerback is on. Asante Samuel Jr. remains a free agent, but perhaps the Raiders are looking towards the draft. Jahdae Barron stands as a picture-perfect Pete Carroll cornerback, but a second-round option seems more reasonable. That’s where a bulk of talent will be. This allows Las Vegas to get a starting-caliber corner at pick 37 after securing a can’t-miss prospect at sixth-overall.
More Las Vegas Raiders content:
Raider Ramble Answers: Should Raiders Take Ashton Jeanty?
Raiders, Geno Smith Get Extension Done – And Boy, Is It Good
Mark Davis Says, “We’re Undefeated”
*Top Photo: Getty Images
Ramble Roundtable: Should Ashton Jeanty be the pick if he’s available?
The post Las Vegas Raiders: The Short-Lived Jack Jones Era Comes To An End appeared first on The Raider Ramble.