Update: Raiders & Maurice Jones-Drew Expected To Agree On A Three-Year Deal Friday

March 28, 2014

Update:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms that the Raiders and free agent RB Maurice Jones-Drew are “close” to an agreement.

Schefter adds that Jones-Drew and Oakland are expected to agree to a three-year contract at some point Friday.
According to Schefter, Jones-Drew reportedly let the Raiders know on Thursday that he wanted to play for his hometown team and believes they can offer him a better opportunity to start next year.

Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area, citing two league sources, reported Thursday night that the two sides had agreed to terms on a contract.

The Raiders re-signed RB Darren McFadden a few weeks ago, which was a bit of a surprising move given that all indications had been that they preferred to retain Rashad Jennings over him.

Jones-Drew could end up with the starting job, or at least a larger role in the team’s offense this season.

We’ll have more as the news is available.

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Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area reports that the Raiders free agent RB Maurice Jones-Drew and are “very close” to reaching an agreement.

Bair adds that “all signs point to this thing getting done very soon.“

Jones-Drew, 28, is coming off of a disappointing season for the Jaguars in which he totaled 803 yards (3.4 YPC) and five touchdowns. In 2013, he surpassed 100 yards in a game just once, but it is worth mentioning that the Jaguars offense has a whole was pretty bad, and a combination of Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne at quarterback wasn’t exactly doing him any favors by keeping defenders out of the box.

Pro Football Focus actually had him rated as an above average running back last season, but his rating was propped up by his blocking ability.

We have him listed as the No. 16 best available player in our Top 50 Free Agents list.

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Ian Rapoport reports that free agent RB Maurice Jones-Drew is visiting with the Raiders on Friday.

Rapoport adds that talks could get serious between the two sides.
Mike Garafolo mentions that the Raiders and Jones-Drew are “hoping to close a deal quickly.“

The Dolphins, Jets, Patriots and Steelers all been mentioned as teams who could have interest in Jones-Drew. However, recent reports have ruled out the Patriots and Dolphins.

Jones-Drew visited with the Steelers in recent weeks who are clearly in the market for another running back.