The Oakland Raiders selected Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft last week. The start of his professional career marks the end of one wide receiver's tenure in Oakland. James Jones has confirmed that the Raiders are releasing him, Scott Bair and Fallon Smith of CSNBayArea.com report.
The Raiders have gone through some turnover at the wide receiver position this offseason. In addition to Cooper, Oakland added Michael Crabtree in free agency and retained Rod Streater and Andre Holmes.
Jones, 31, was inked to a three-year contract last year, but the $10 million deal did not include any guaranteed money past the 2014 season. This allows the franchise to part ways with Jones without having any dead money on their salary cap. Jones was slated to make $2.95 in base salary this season, with other cap charges raising his cap hit to $3.43 million. Oakland would have still be flush with cap room without releasing him, but doing it now gives him extra time to find a new team.
Jones spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers. He set a career high last year with 73 receptions though he only produced 666 yards and 9.1 yards-per-catch average.
