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Maurice Jones-Drew | Running Back

Team: Oakland Raiders
Age / DOB:  (29) / 3/23/1985
Ht / Wt:  5'7' / 210
College: UCLA
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

New LT Donald Penn said the Raiders plan to "run the ball, run the ball, then run it again, until the defense stops us."
The Raiders signed Maurice Jones-Drew to a three-year, $7.5 million deal, making him the favorite for lead-back duties ahead of Darren McFadden. DMC is the more talented runner at this stage of their respective careers, but he's obviously a massive injury risk. The Raiders upgraded their line by adding power blockers LT Penn and RG Austin Howard. They may want to run the ball at will, but an insanely tough schedule may prevent them from doing so at a high clip. Jul 8 - 8:45 AM
Source: Sirius XM NFL Radio

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

Maurice Jones-Drew admitted to the Los Angeles Times that he contemplated retiring after the 2013 season.

Jones-Drew averaged a career-worst 3.4 YPC in 2013. He remained somewhat effective between the tackles, but obviously lacked a second gear on the rare occasions Jacksonville's blocking sprung him into the open field. "For awhile, I was contemplating retirement because I just didn't feel like I had it anymore," Jones-Drew conceded. "... I watched the game tape and I'd say, 'Man, why'd I do this? Why didn't I do that?' Part of it was, just physically, I wasn't able to do some of the same things I'm used to doing." MJD insists he's in better shape now and can rebound with the Raiders. The odds are firmly against him at age 29.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Jun 29 - 2:23 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

Raiders coach Dennis Allen says he's "considering using" Maurice Jones-Drew on punt returns.

It's understandable that the Raiders are looking to get a bang for their MJD buck ($1.2 million guaranteed), but having an aging, increasingly injury prone 5-foot-7 back return punts seems like a disaster waiting to happen. To put it mildly, MJD was sluggish in the open field last season. We'll just assume Allen was thinking out loud, and not seriously considering using MJD on special teams.
Source: Vittorio Tafur on Twitter
May 27 - 4:06 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

Maurice Jones-Drew said his goal is to play at 208 pounds this season.

Jones-Drew played at 205 during his time at UCLA. His desire to get back around that mark shows an understanding that he wasn't explosive enough last season while averaging a paltry 3.43 YPC. Aging running backs cutting weight is one of the best ways to put a little juice back in the tank. Jones-Drew has a realistic shot to beat out Darren McFadden for the starting title in training camp.
Related: Darren McFadden
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Apr 23 - 8:31 AM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

Maurice Jones-Drew's three-year contract with Oakland has a base value of $7.5 million with $1.2 million guaranteed.

The only guaranteed portion is Jones-Drew's 2014 base salary of $1.2 million. There was no signing bonus, and MJD could be released next offseason with no ramification on the Raiders' cap. It's telling that Jones-Drew couldn't do better than this on the market. Oakland now has him "locked up" through age 31.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
Mar 31 - 1:53 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

Maurice Jones-Drew said he picked the Raiders because they offered him an opportunity to "compete and play."

Darren McFadden may have the upper hand as the incumbent, but Jones-Drew has a real shot to open the season as the starter. With both Jones-Drew and McFadden's injury histories, is it also not out of the question that Latavius Murray gets a starting opportunity at some point in 2014. The Oakland backfield is shaping up to be a fantasy quagmire.
Related: Latavius Murray, Darren McFadden
Source: Contra Costa Times
Mar 29 - 10:17 AM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

Raiders signed RB Maurice Jones-Drew to a three-year contract.

Oakland will pair MJD with Darren McFadden in an apparent attempt to reincarnate the 2011 AFC Pro Bowl backfield. Jones-Drew, 29, rushed 234 times for 803 yards and five touchdowns in Jacksonville last season, adding 43 receptions. Our tape study of MJD revealed that he remains an effective between-the-tackles grinder and bowling ball, but has lost his second gear in the open field and is no longer a big-play threat. We're going to project Jones-Drew as the Raiders' Week 1 starter, but wouldn't count on him getting more than 15 touches per game. Oakland's backfield projects as a fantasy quagmire for 2014.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 28 - 3:04 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Raiders are "expected to agree later today" on a three-year contract with free agent Maurice Jones-Drew.

Schefter cautions that a deal is "still not final," but this story has since been confirmed by CSN Bay Area's Scott Bair and NFL Network's Albert Breer. Although it'll be a "three-year" contract on the surface, the Raiders have been structuring deals to essentially make them one-year commitments. Jones-Drew turned 29 last weekend, and may not have three years left in the tank.
Related: Raiders
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mar 28 - 10:17 AM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

CSN Bay Area reports the Raiders are "very close" to a deal with free agent Maurice Jones-Drew.

Per reporter Scott Bair, "all signs" are pointing toward a deal. That was the expectation after MJD arrived in Oakland Thursday afternoon. If you ignore the fact that a 29-year-old running back is one of the last things a rebuilding team needs, MJD fills the Raiders' need for a competent bookend to fragile No. 1 Darren McFadden. Jones-Drew is on the downslope, but didn't embarrass himself in 2013. He did, however, average a career-worst 3.4 yards per carry.
Related: Raiders
Source: Scott Bair on Twitter
Mar 27 - 10:26 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

Free agent Maurice Jones-Drew is visiting the Raiders.

According to FOX Sports, the sides are "hoping to close a deal quickly." To date, MJD has only visited the Steelers, but the New York Daily News reported earlier this week that the Jets are "in the hunt." Jones-Drew would provide a declining bookend to a fragile Darren McFadden in Oakland. The rebuilding Jags let the veteran runner walk, but the rebuilding Raiders can't stop adding players who are past their prime.
Related: Raiders
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 27 - 4:30 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

The New York Post reports free agent Maurice Jones-Drew could wait until late in the summer or even into the season to sign if teams are unwilling to meet his asking price.

Jones-Drew is said to be seeking $3-3.5 million per season on a new deal. That's the top of the market for running backs in 2014 free agency, and we don't see a 29-year-old with 1,804 career carries finding it. The Jets are expected to show interest in MJD this week, while the Steelers are also still in on "Mojo."
Source: New York Post
Mar 25 - 10:33 AM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

CSN New England reports the Patriots have not contacted free agent Maurice Jones-Drew.

A Monday report claimed the Dolphins, Pats, Steelers, and Jets were "in the hunt" for MJD. Two reports since have shot down Miami and New England's alleged interest. We expect Jones-Drew to either land with the Steelers or Jets at this point. Monday's report may have been agent-driven, attempting to forge a larger market for Jones-Drew than he really has. He's a late-career running back.
Related: Patriots
Source: CSN New England
Mar 25 - 7:07 AM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

The Miami Herald hints the Dolphins are not interested in free agent Maurice Jones-Drew.

The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero reports the Dolphins have yet to talk to MJD about a visit or his desire to play in Miami, let alone discuss a contract. The New York Daily News mentioned the Dolphins, Jets, Patriots, and Steelers as teams that plan to visit with Jones-Drew this week at the NFL Owners Meetings. MJD is going to be a complementary piece wherever he lands.
Related: Dolphins
Source: Armando Salguero on Twitter
Mar 24 - 7:20 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

The New York Daily News reports the Jets, Patriots, Dolphins, and Steelers are "in the hunt" for free agent Maurice Jones-Drew.

The Daily News contends the Jets' interest is "serious," while Jones-Drew visited the Steelers last week, leaving without a contract. The Patriots and Dolphins' interest had only been speculated about to this point. Jones-Drew's best shot at fantasy value in 2014 would be with Miami. He would be a complementary back in New York and New England, and Le'Veon Bell's backup in Pittsburgh.
Related: Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, Steelers
Source: New York Daily News
Mar 24 - 3:52 PM
Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Raiders

CBS' Jason La Canfora reports free agent Maurice Jones-Drew is seeking $3.5 million per season.

In a year where only a select few backs are getting $3.5 million guaranteed, it's not going to happen for a player who turns 29 on Sunday. MJD appears to have enough left in the tank for 2014, but the money simply isn't there for running backs right now. Wherever Jones-Drew ends up, it should be as part of a committee.
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter
Mar 20 - 7:22 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Matt Schaub
2Derek Carr
3Matt McGloin
4Trent Edwards
RB1Maurice Jones-Drew
2Darren McFadden
3Kory Sheets
4Latavius Murray
5Jeremy Stewart
GLB1Maurice Jones-Drew
2Darren McFadden
3RB1Maurice Jones-Drew
2Darren McFadden
FB1Marcel Reece
2Jamize Olawale
3Karl Williams
WR11James Jones
2Andre Holmes
3Brice Butler
4Gregory Jenkins
5Mike Davis
WR21Rod Streater
2Denarius Moore
3Greg Little
4Juron Criner
WR31Andre Holmes
TE1David Ausberry
2Mychal Rivera
3Nick Kasa
4Brian Leonhardt
5Jake Murphy
K1Sebastian Janikowski
2Michael Palardy