Report: Maurice Jones-Drew to visit Raiders

Well, it seemed almost like it was meant to happen -- Maurice Jones-Drew is headed to Oakland. He is scheduled to meet with the team Thursday evening and Friday. It will literally be just a flight home for him as he is from the East Bay and still lives in the area. Ian Rapoport first reported the visit:

Maurice Jones-Drew is visiting the #Raiders tonight and tomorrow, per source. Wow. Could get serious.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2014

We are now two weeks into free agency and MJD is now finally making the trip down the road to Alameda to speak with the team of which he grew up a fan. He spent his entire eight-year NFL career in Jacksonville.

The move makes far too much sense, really. The Raiders have plenty of cap space and don't have a sure starter. Jones-Drew's former backup, Rashad Jennings started most of last season for the Raiders and left as a free agent to sign with the New York Giants.

The Raiders re-signed Darren McFadden to a low risk contract and brought in CFL running back, Kory Sheets. They alreay had last year's sixth round pick, Latavius Murray, and former undrafted Jeremy Stewart. If MJD can stay healthy, he could be the best option of all of them.

The 5-8, 205 pound back became the full time starter in Jacksonville in 2009 and made three straight Pro Bowls. The past two seasons, he has been slowed by injuries and hasn't been able to return to form. He missed ten games in 2012 and was hobbled in the game against the Raiders when Charles Woodson made a gorgeous leaping tackle on him. He still played in 15 games but the nagging injuries dropped his yards per carry to the lowest of his career (3.4).

The former All Pro running back just turned 29-years-old and with eight seasons in the NFL, including the last five as a feature back, that means he is likely to have one or two NFL seasons left in him.

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