Under new coach Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas is shooting for upgrades in character and chemistry. Jack Jones’ rap sheet tells us he’s not worth an experiment here.
FRISCO – Inarguably, major questions are about to be dealt with by the Dallas Cowboys regarding their heading into the 2025 season.
Can DaRon Bland, who only had half of a season in 2024, starting the year on injured reserve, return to playmaking form?
Can Trevon Diggs, as continues to recover from a knee injury, ever be what he once was?
Can Kaiir Elam, the first-round “bust” acquired in trade from Buffalo, ever be what he’s never been?
These 3 issues naturally lead to Cowboys Nation being willing to say “maybe” to every semi-name player who comes available. …
And we’ve got a franchise notorious for giving players second chances – “Second-Chance Valley Ranch” is the phrase we coined years ago – and we’ve got suggestions that the Cowboys could be a landing spot for former Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Jack Jones.
The Raiders just released Jones after a lackluster showing last season and a general scheme change incoming with Pete Carroll becoming the new head coach.
What’s the upside?
Jones posted career bests in tackles (69) and interceptions (three), ending his tenure as one of the most productive players (by some measures) from the Raiders coach Antonio Pierce regime.
What’s the downside? There are 3 of them, too.
One, his 698 yards and nine touchdowns allowed in coverage remain a glaring negative for any team willing to take him on.
Two, the former Patriots fourth-rounder is but 5-11 and 175 pounds. At that relatively diminutive size, a guy had better be dominant as a playmaker.
He’s not.
And three, Jones has a troubled behavioral history. He’s been convicted of burglary. He’s been arrested for carrying loaded guns in the airport. He is – to put a crisp frame around it – one of those “missing curfew’ kind of guys.
Oh, and he’s 27. Professionalism and maturity should’ve taken hold by now.
The truth is, the central reason the Raiders picked him up after New England dumped him is because Pierce was his high school and college coach.
The uncertainty around Diggs (and the other aforementioned concerns) are real … but it doesn’t mean Dallas has to panic its way to a dumb move.
Under new coach Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas is shooting for upgrades in character and chemistry. Jack Jones’ rap sheet tells us he’s not worth an experiment here.
