Report: Raiders release veteran wide receiver James Jones after one season

A day after the 2015 NFL Draft in which the Raiders made wide receiver Amari Cooper their top pick at fourth overall, they have informed veteran wide receiver James Jones he was to be released according to a report by Fallon Smith of CSN Bay Area.

BREAKING: San Jose native James Jones told me GM Reggie McKenzie has informed him the #Raiders are going to release him. #Raiders

— Fallon Smith (@FallonSmithCSN) May 4, 2015

This move comes as quite a surprise considering Jones played a significant role in the Raiders offense last season after the team signed the former long time Packers receiver to a free agent contract. He was Derek Carr's favorite target, catching 73 passes for 666 yards and led the team with 6 touchdowns.

Signing with the Raiders was not only a homecoming for the San Jose native but it was reuniting with Reggie McKenzie who was in the Packers front office when the Packers made Jones a round two pick in the 2007 draft and where he spent the first seven years of his career.

With the addition of Amari Cooper in the draft, Michael Crabtree in free agency, and the return of Rod Streater from injury, it's possible Jones could have fallen to fourth on the depth chart. He was due $3.4 million this season and his release leaves no dead money behind.

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