Out with the old, in with the new.

Few axioms ring truer than the latter, and it rings true in Oakland today as the Raiders plan to release James Jones, per a CSN Bay Area report.

Jones, a bay area native, was a part of the Raiders 2014 free agency haul and led the team last year in targets (112), receptions (73), and touchdowns (6). He was one of the few veteran receivers on the roster last year after Rod Streater succumbed to injury early in the season. While Oakland didn’t sign Jones a year ago with the expectations that he’d flourish into a legitimate number one receiver, he did provide young Derek Carr with a relatively reliable target with a penchant for getting into the end zone. Jones led the league in receiving touchdowns in 2012 with the Green Bay Packers, and did much of his damage from the Z and slot receiver positions.

With the recent signing of Michael Crabtree in the twilight of free agency and the acquisition of Amari Cooper via the draft, there are fewer balls to go around in Oakland. The team will save $3.4 million by jettisoning Jones, who wouldn’t of been content competing with the likes of Andre Holmes, Brice Butler, among others, for the fourth wide receiver spot.

Of course, the release of Jones is normal operating procedure for Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, who invested lightly in low-risk veteran contracts in free agency as he builds the roster through the draft.

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About the author
Richard Sena
I am a writer located in Boca Raton, Florida. I am a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and cover both local and national football related stories.