Jones came onto the scene in a big way for the Silver and Black in 2023. He was signed off waivers midseason and in seven games with Las Vegas, he totaled four pass deflections and two highlight reel pick-sixes that payed dividends in divisional victories against the Los Angeles Chargers and eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
“That dude has some stuff in his legs that you just don’t see,” Manning said. “I’m watching drills and I’m like, ‘He covered those five yards in like two steps,’ so he got some explosion stuff. He’s a ball guy, which I love. I love guys that take away the ball. He can really do some special things. Once he locks in and he focuses, that dude can be pretty good.”
Competing for the starting cornerback job opposite of Jack Jones are Brandon Facyson and Jakorian Bennett, both of which have experience as starters for the Raiders. Facyson was signed by Las Vegas off the Chargers practice squad in 2021, and he went on to lead the team in pass deflections (13). After a year with the Indianapolis Colts, he returned to the Silver and Black in 2023, but ultimately only appeared in three games due to injury. Bennett, a 2023 fourth-round pick from Maryland, began his season as a starter before injuries and rookie growing pains diminished his role.
Several coaches including senior defensive assistant Rob Ryan and safeties coach Gerald Alexander have praised third-year safety Isaiah Pola-Mao this offseason. They believe he’s developing at a fast rate that could result in more opportunities in 2024. The former UDFA from the University of Southern California totaled 14 solo tackles, a sack and an interception last season.
Sam Webb, Chris Smith II, Jaydon Grant and Cornell Armstrong round out the remaining defensive backs returning to the roster. Webb, who made the 53-man roster as a UDFA in 2022 with Pola-Mao, started three games a rookie before spending the majority of 2023 on the practice…
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