The New England Patriots released Jack Jones in 2023 due to his inability to avoid legal issues. A familiar face in then-Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce gave him a chance and he thrived. Jones brought a new energy to the team and was one of the main catalysts to the late success that year.
Additionally, the cornerback will go down in Raiders history for two legendary interceptions. His one-handed interception against the Los Angeles Chargers is one of the most impressive plays ever. The Arizona State alum then capitalized on that momentum and is one of the main culprits for stealing Christmas from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. Given that, we expected 2024 to be a breakout season.
Expectations versus reality, however, are very different.
Did Raiders CB Jack Jones make “business decisions?”
One of the obvious weaknesses of No. 18’s game is the lack of size. He stands at five-foot-11 and 175 pounds, which naturally creates a liability in tackling. Still, there’s a difference between having a physical disadvantage and not being willing to make a tackle. His head coach addressed this issue to the media after a humiliating loss to the Carolina Panthers. “As the game went on, there were some individuals that made business decisions,” Pierce said.
Consequently, the next week a new starting cornerback entered the lineup. For the first time since his debut with the Raiders, Jones was on the bench. Though this was a humbling moment, the young defensive back thrived on it. Throughout the season, he demonstrated an increased willingness to tackle and engage in physical contact.
He finished the season with 69 tackles and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. No doubt Jones is the best ball hawk on the team, but he was not the best coverage corner. Jakorian Bennett was a pleasant surprise for the Silver and Black, who locked down star receivers before he was injured.
The same reason No. 18 creates turnovers is the same reason why he is vulnerable in coverage. Equally important as speed and ball skills is discipline for defensive backs. Too often, Jones panics in man coverage and transitions his eyes to the quarterback. This led to receivers torching him with double moves.
Pro Football Focus determined that the 27-year-old earned an underwhelming 53.9 grade. If he can learn to be more disciplined, Jones can be a great cornerback. But if the inconsistency continues, the Raiders should look to invest capital in a more reliable second defensive back.
