The Las Vegas Raiders will have many offseason decisions to make when it comes to their own players, with one of them being cornerback Jack Jones, who has one more year left on his contract but no guaranteed money on it.
Jones joined the Raiders in 2023 after he was claimed off waivers and was excellent over seven games. However, things soured in 2024, as not only did his numbers in coverage take a dip, there were questions about his effort.
If the Raiders decide to move on from Jones, or simply want to add more talent to the secondary, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward could be an option for them.
“The Raiders have the money to make a run at some of the better veterans who are going to be on the market,” Ballentine wrote. “The 49ers opted to give Deommodore Lenoir an extension during the season, so there’s a good chance that Charvarius Ward will be looking for a new home. The Raiders need a veteran presence in the secondary who can get them on the same page.
“The Raiders’ group of young defensive backs was responsible for giving up 27 touchdowns through the air this season. Charvarius Ward is coming off a down year, but he has a proven track record as a good corner on winning teams. The Raiders could use what he brings to the table.”
Ward just completed the final year of his three-year, $40.5 million contract. It was a down year for the former Pro Bowler, but he also dealt with unimaginable personal struggle after the tragic death of his daughter.
At his best, Ward would be a big upgrade over Jones on the boundary opposite Jakorian Bennett, who looks to be a long-term solution after he posted a great bounce-back season in 2024.
With Ward and Bennett on the outside, the Raiders have a few directions they could go in from there.
They could cut ties with Jones and re-sign slot cornerback Nate Hobbs, or they could let Hobbs walk and try Jones in the slot, where he has some experience, albeit not much (101 snaps over three seasons).
Ideally, the Raiders pair Ward with Bennett and bring Hobbs back. That trio would be more than formidable and has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL.
