Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones is coming off another big season in which he led the team in receiving yards and was a major factor in helping the Packers reach the playoffs for the seventh straight season.
The Packers eventually lost in the Divisional round of the playoffs, but not before the 31-year-old wide receiver caught seven passes for 81 yards in a win over the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round. The Packers receiver didn't miss a game during the 2015 season, and he was a huge addition in the preseason after the team lost wide receiver Jordy Nelson with a torn ACL.
The Packers receiver was cut by both the Raiders and the Giants prior to signing with Green Bay for the 2015 season, and he is ready to test the free agent market even though he would like to remain a Packer. "I was hoping it would go be back to Green Bay, but I don't know what's going to happen," Jones said. "Like I said before, I would love to finish my career as a Green Bay Packer, but we all know this business is extremely crazy so it looks like I'm going to hit the open market again so we'll see what's going to happen and hopefully I get a little more action this time."
This will be the second time that Jones will look to sign with another team other than the Packers, as he played one full season with the Oakland Raiders in 2014. The 6-foot-1, 208-pound receiver put up solid numbers that season, catching 73 passes for 666 yards and scoring six touchdowns, but Oakland felt that it needed to go in a different direction, which worked out well for the Packers last season.
Green Bay is reportedly in the market for a complimentary wide receiver this offseason, and it's unknown if the team will make a push to re-sign him. The Packers receiver feels that he is being brushed over in free agency, and some don't think that he is one of the top-99 players to hit the free agent market this offseason.
Jones has put up strong numbers throughout his career and hasn't been held under 500 receiving yards since the 2009 season, but some question if his numbers are a result of playing with one of the league's best quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers. Jones said that he plans to play three to four more seasons and would love to finish his career in Green Bay, but he understands the business and is just hopeful to find a team that recognizes that he can be a productive wide receiver.
Jones will turn 32 years old this March, and it will be interesting to see how the market plays out for him, as he is still clearly a talent that can be an effective in the league.
