In Henderson, Nevada, the Las Vegas Raiders have decided to let go of cornerback Jack Jones after efforts to trade him proved unsuccessful, as confirmed by sources to ESPN on Sunday.
By cutting ties with Jones, the Raiders will free up $3.4 million in salary cap space.
Jones joined the Raiders after they picked him up from waivers in 2023 post his stint with the New England Patriots, where he only played a full season. Over his time with the Raiders, he appeared in 24 games.
During the 2024 season, he started in 16 games and recorded his personal best with 69 tackles, 16 passes defended, and 3 interceptions. However, he did allow 698 yards, 9 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 108.9 on 88 targets when he was the closest defender.
With Jones and Nate Hobbs leaving—Hobbs recently signed a four-year contract with the Green Bay Packers—the Raiders now have a group of cornerbacks that includes Jakorian Bennett, Decamerion Richardson, picked in the fourth round of 2024, M.J. Devonshire, Kyu Blu Kelly, Eric Stokes, and Darnay Holmes.
Bennett, Stokes, and Richardson primarily cover the outside, while Holmes remains the sole nickel cornerback on the team. General Manager John Spytek highlighted the significance of the nickel corner at the annual league meeting, emphasizing its crucial role in Pete Carroll’s and Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham’s defensive strategies.
“Nickel is a pivotal position in this defense,” Spytek noted. “It’s challenging to fill due to the varied responsibilities we place on that role.”
Looking ahead, the Raiders are likely to address the need for depth in their cornerback lineup during this month’s draft. They might aim for Michigan’s cornerback Will Johnson in the first round. As for Day 2, prospects like Maxwell Hairston from Kentucky and Ole Miss’s Trey Amos could be in consideration.
The NFL Network was first to break the news about Jones’s release.
