Raiders Cut Cornerback with Ties to Steelers Coach
The Las Vegas Raiders failed to find a trade partner for cornerback Jack Jones, so the team released him on Monday. Jones played for Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Gerald Alexander in 2024.
The Steelers could potentially be interested in a reunion between Jones and Alexander, who replaced Grady Brown as the Steelers’ secondary coach this offseason. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Jones earned the most extensive playing time of his career under Alexander in 2024.
Jones started 16 of 17 games for the Raiders, appearing in 1,049 snaps of defense — more than his first two NFL seasons combined. He recorded a career-high 69 tackles, three tackles for loss, 16 passes defended and one interception.
Originally a fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots out of Arizona State, Jones played in 13 games and made two starts as a rookie for the Pats in 2022.
The following offseason, he was arrested at Boston Logan Airport when two guns were found in his carry-on baggage. The chargers were eventually dropped when he entered a pre-trial diversion program.
Jones was expected to be New England’s starting cornerback in 2023, but suffered a hamstring injury prior to the start of the season and spent the first two months of the year on the injured reserve list. He returned to a backup role in Week 7. Two weeks later, Jones missed curfew before the team’s game against the Washington Commanders. He played just 10 snaps the following week, and was released on Nov. 13.
The Raiders claimed him off waivers, and he played the final seven games of the season in Las Vegas, starting the final three. He recorded two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns as the Raiders went on an improbable late-season run.
Jones is entering the final season of his rookie contract and is owed $3.406 million in non-guaranteed salary in 2025.
The Steelers do not have an obvious need at the outside cornerback position after signing free agent Darius Slay and re-signing depth cornerback and special teamer James Pierre.
Nevertheless, Jones is an intriguing option. especially with his ties to Alexander. The Steelers could be interested in bringing him in to compete with Cory Trice and Pierre for a backup role.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.