The Las Vegas Raiders have several needs that could still use a boost if a veteran upgrade is available, for the right price, of course. One of those needs is the apparent lack of depth behind wide receivers Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. What if Dave Ziegler could swing a deal for Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Marvin Jones before the season?
Why would the Jacksonville Jaguars trade Marvin Jones?
If we’re being honest, there’s no issue with Jones as a player. He’s accumulated 5,128 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns since 2016. Jones was the closest thing to a number one receiver that the Jaguars had last year, so why would they ship him off? According to Bleacher Report’s Ian Wharton, despite being 32 years old, Jones is coming off a solid season where his numbers declined slightly. He mentions that might have to do more with the fact he played with rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. More than that, Wharton believes that Jones’s salary and cap hit, make him a trade candidate. Basically, he’s a luxury that Jacksonville might be better off moving from. That makes sense considering that the Jaguars aren’t close to playoff contention yet.
Should the Raiders actually consider this?
Besides Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, the slots for the third and fourth wide receivers on the Raiders should be anything but set. Demarcus Robinson will likely get a chance to compete to be that third option, but there’s a lot of uncertainty with that group’s depth.
Maybe taking a swing for Jones shouldn’t be scoffed at. If there’s one thing that Ziegler has proven, it’s that if he wants a player, he’ll swing for it. Imagine an offense with Renfrow in the slot, Adams outside as the “X,” and Jones in the role of Z. It could be a potentially lethal offense.
For more insight on Jones, we reached out to our friend and site expert at Black & Teal, Carlos Sanchez.
“Marvin Jones would be a great addition to Las Vegas’ wide receiver corps, and the Raiders should definitely make a run for him if the Jaguars put him on the trade block, which won’t likely happen. Jones would be a great No. 2 opposite Davante Adams in Josh McDaniels’ offense or any offense for that matter. The former California Golden Bear led Jacksonville in receiving yards (832), catches (73), and touchdowns (four) last year, and he would have posted even better numbers had the Jags had someone else to draw coverage away from him. Moreover, the Raiders’ locker room would benefit from Jones’ leadership. He’s the kind of player that will always look out for his teammates and help them when necessary.”
The Raiders could end up adding at least one key veteran this offseason now that the cap situation has been resolved as far as cuts and their financial impact. Though unlikely, a trade for Jones could be big, but for now, it’ll remain conjecture at best.
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*Top Photo: NFL Draft Diamonds
