Ravens: Jacoby Jones cut loose

In their first cap-saving move of the offseason, the Ravens released wide receiver and return specialist Jacoby Jones on Tuesday. Jones contributed plenty of big plays during the Ravens' Super Bowl run in 2012, but failed to make an impact as a receiver the past two years.

The move saves the Ravens from paying him the $2.5m he was due this year, but only actually saves $750k against the cap unless they designate him as a post-June cut. Arriving in Baltimore from Houston in 2012, his time in Baltimore will most be remembered for the game-tying touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Playoff game.

Last year wasn't a great year for him as a receiver, with just 131 receiving yards in the regular season, and five drops from 12 catchable passes thrown his way. Seeing him finish the year with a -3.8 receiving grade, the lowest at the position for the Ravens. With young players like Kamar Aiken, Marlon Brown and Michael Campanaro flashing at least at points, it makes sense that the team would look to move on from Jones now.

Though, while the move doesn't hurt the Ravens at receiver, it does leave them looking for another return specialist. Jones had the fourth-most kick return yards in the NFL last year with 934, averaging 30.1 yards per return, including a touchdown. On punt returns he was fifth in the league with 305 yards. On the roster right now, Campanaro was the only other player to return a punt last year, with 17 yards from two returns so it's tough to tell if the Ravens have their punt returner for 2015 already on the roster or not. Regardless, they will likely look back at the signing of Jones as a good move due to his contributions to their second Super Bowl triumph, but releasing him now makes sense.