CB Jack Jones: An Al Davis-Type Player

The Las Vegas Raiders' Jack Jones had a brief, turbulent tenure in New England. His resurgence with the Silver and Black reminds many of the type of player the late Hall of Fame owner, Al Davis, would appreciate.

Dec 25, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) interacts / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The late Hall of Fame owner and general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, Al Davis, was well known for his approach to finding talent. Davis was famously open-minded when it came to finding gems in unconventional places or players.

Davis was once asked by NFL Films' Steve Sabol about his affinity for "troublemakers".

"There are so many that came to us with the label 'troublemaker'," Davis said. "I think it's wrong. What they have to prove to [the Raiders] when they come here is that they can't get along with us, that we can't get along with them."

Davis found success with "troublemakers" like Lyle Alzado and John Matuszak in the 1980s.

Now, Davis is gone, but his philosophy has been honored by current Raiders ownership, and now the Silver and Black have a player to be pleased with in cornerback Jack Jones.

Before arriving to the Raiders, Jones was a fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2022. As a rookie, Jones had two interceptions and earned an above average 74.7 grade from Pro Football Focus. The offseason after his rookie year was when problems arose.

In January of 2023, Jones was suspended for missing rehabilitation appointments for an injury he sustained the previous December. Then, in June, Jones was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm at an airport.

Last season, a hamstring injury cost Jones to miss the first six games -- and in the four games he played for the Patriots, he earned a PFF grade of 46.6. The Patriots released Jones in November.

Jones was quickly picked up on waivers by the Raiders. Head coach Antonio Pierce knew Jones since before he attended Long Beach Poly High School. Then, Pierce was Jones' defensive coordinator at Arizona State. Pierce believed in Jones.

"The kid's been through a lot," said Pierce. "I've known him since he was very young. I've seen the growth of development. Nobody's perfect, I don't expect him to be perfect."

With the Raiders, Jones was not perfect -- but he played very well. In his seven games with the Silver and Black, Jones tallied 20 tackles and two interceptions -- improving his PFF grade to 71.6 on the season.

Our Hondo Carpenter Sr. discussed what he liked in Jones for the upcoming 2024 season on a recent episode of the "Las Vegas Insider" podcast.

"Jack is extremely talented," Carpenter said. "Had some issues in New England, got cut, picked up by the Raiders -- and played unbelievably well."

Carpenter spoke highly of Jones' potential, saying Jones could be a "superstar." Carpenter then added a sentiment the legendary Al Davis would agree with.

"It's good to believe in people," Carpenter said.

The Raiders still believe -- and it is paying off.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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