The Raiders will audition quarterback Cardale Jones on Friday afternoon, according to Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The former Ohio State standout has made multiple stops in the NFL but has just one pro game under his belt. 
Jones played for the D.C. Defenders in the XFL’s short-lived reboot. His stats weren’t great – he completely just 61 of 113 throws for 674 yards and four touchdowns against seven interceptions. Previous to that, Jones spent time with the Chargers, Seahawks, and Bills.
In 2015, Jones emerged as a superstar for the Buckeyes when quarterbacks Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett were lost to injury. After leading Ohio State to victory over Oregon in the National Championship game, Jones went from a relative unknown to a bonafide NFL prospect. He was benched midway through the 2016 season, but many believed that big things were in store for the athletic QB when the Bills tapped him in the fourth-round of the draft. Ultimately, he only appeared in one game for Buffalo.
Even if Jones lands a deal, he may face long odds of making the final cut. The Raiders seem well set under center with Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, and Nathan Peterman on the QB depth chart.
Peterman is awful. I don’t understand Gruden’s fascination with him. At least he’s 3rd string, but it’s still a waste of a roster spot.
That said, I’m not sure Jones is an improvement. He struggled in the XFL. What happens when he goes against quicker and stronger defenders?
I was actually just thinking, “What about those XFL stats warrants an NFL tryout?”
In the XFL, Jones looked exactly the same as he did in the NFL, which is not a good sign. Peterman at least has the excuse of being poorly prepared by his coaching staff (calling up a fifth round pick from the practice squad a week before his first start is guaranteed to not go well), but Jones cannot say the same.
He’s been on the regular roster a few times (not the practice squad), but cannot read defenses well enough, go through his progressions, and is not accurate with the football. He looks like he did with OSU after opposing teams got tape on him. I don’t want to kick a guy when he’s down, but the fact that Jones has not shown any obvious development in five or so years of playing college or pro football is concerning.
Do the Raiders have to sign Jones to bring the beer snake to Las Vegas?