Kansas City Chiefs Should Sign Veteran WR James Jones

Entering this off season, the Kansas City Chiefs had a major need at the wide receiver position. The core led by Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery simply was not getting the job done. Sure, the offensive line issues and Alex Smith‘s insistence to dump the ball off did not help them out, but Chiefs’ receivers were not getting open on a consistent basis.

The Chiefs have actually done a very nice job of re-tooling their receiving core this off season. Most obviously, cutting Bowe and replacing him with Jeremy Maclin is a major step in the right direction. Maclin is coming off of his best season in the NFL, and reuniting him with his former head coach in Andy Reid is a great recipe for success.

Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) scores a 21 yard touchdown during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Maclin’s addition alone will certainly help solidify the entire receiving core, but the third-round selection of Chris Conley is another step in the right direction. Conley has an incredible combination of speed, size and athleticism that can make him a match-up nightmare. That being said, he is a very raw player who needs to work on his route running ability and catch the ball more consistently. He may not be there yet, but Conley has the tools to be a star.

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Da’Rick Rogers is a bit of a shot in the dark, but he has tremendous upside at the position as well. If Rogers can stay out of trouble, he will get an opportunity to shine in Kansas City. Guys like Jason Avant, Junior Hemingway, Frankie Hammond and 2015 seventh-round selection Da’Ron Brown bring nice depth to the position, but extremely limited upside.

If the season were to start today, second-year receiver Albert Wilson would probably get the starting nod opposite of Maclin. While undersized (5-foot-9, 200 pounds), Wilson is a very fast and shifty receiver who shows the upside to be a big-time playmaker. Wilson got a bit of an opportunity late last season, and impressed in his limited time. Wilson appeared to be the only receiver on the Chiefs’ roster who could create separation. He uses his impressive speed and quickness very well to both beat defenders deep, and make plays after the catch.

While Wilson, Conley and Rogers have great upside, all three are very unproven receivers with scary downsides as well. In fact, aside from Maclin, there is not a receiver on the roster who the Chiefs can count on to be a consistent reliable target. Adding a veteran receiver seems to be something that Kansas City should be considering.

Last week, the Oakland Raiders released wide receiver James Jones, just one season after signing him to a three-year free agent contract. Jones is coming off of a season with the Raiders where he played out-of-place with a rookie quarterback, but still managed to total 73 receptions for 666 yards and six touchdowns. Jones may just be the solid veteran presence that the Chiefs need at the wide receiver position.

While playing time was up-and-down, Jones spent a huge majority of his seven-year career with the Green Bay Packers playing as an outside receiver. He has nice size, speed and great route running ability that made him a perfect fit as a possession receiver on the outside. Jones was a reliable target, solid deep threat and red zone monster during his time with the Packers, with his best season coming in 2012 where he hauled in 64 receptions for 784 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Jones was a reliable target for Aaron Rodgers for many years, and while he did more of the same with the Raiders, Oakland had him primarily playing out of the slot. Jones’ strengths as a receiver set-up for him to play outside. He does not have blazing speed or outrageous quickness, so expecting him to make plays out of short passes in the slot was a mistake by the Raiders.

He is however, a very reliable target, who can certainly make an impact for a team on the outside. Jones is 31-years-old, so his best days may be behind him, but he still has the talent to make an impact in this league.

Wilson is probably best suited as a slot receiver. Best case scenario for Kansas City, Conley and/or Rogers emerge opposite of Maclin while Wilson does damage out of the slot. While possible, I would not bet on everything happening so smoothly. Signing a guy like Jones protects them from having to rely on underdeveloped or unreliable receivers.

This is a natural fit for a team who could use a low-risk option at the position. The Chiefs should go sign James Jones before it is too late.

Next: Chiefs: How Does Offensive Line Shake Out?

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