Zay Jones has changed locations twice within the last year and he's ready to find a home.
The Raiders were confident in their receiving corps headed into the regular season last year, but following the release of Antonio Brown, General Manager Mike Mayock quickly sought to find a solution via trade.
One month later, Mayock managed to acquire former Reese's Senior Bowl standout Zay Jones from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2021 draft pick. It's no secret Derek Carr's receivers struggled last year and Jones is no exception, but the former East Carolina product was thrown into a new playbook midseason and was forced to adjust on the fly — that's a lot to ask of any skill player.
"When you come into a middle of a season and try to learn someone's playbook, there are small details that you may miss just naturally because it's just so much," Jones explained to the media Wednesday. "There is a lot of language, a lot of verbiage that goes into it. So, it being my second year essentially with the playbook, understanding what all is going to go into it, now I can be more versatile. Now I can move inside, now I can move outside. I can go X, I can go Z. And I can really understand the language of things and get these details down."
For Jones, understanding the ins and outs of the playbook was toward the top of his priority list this offseason, but for him to execute it the way he's capable of, he had to build chemistry with Derek Carr.
Part of the offense's struggles last season stemmed from the inconsistency around Carr, which he's alluded to several times since 2019. Despite the restrictions of COVID, Carr reached out to a handful of teammates about setting up player-organized workouts in Las Vegas, which Jones was adamant about attending.
View photos from the Raiders practice at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center during 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt (32) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeff Heath (38) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (34) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Trent Brown (77) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tanner Muse (55) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jordan Devey (65) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) and tackle Denzelle Good (71) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Trent Brown (77) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Sharif Finch (57) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and running back Devontae Booker (34) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Keelan Doss (18) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) and safety Johnathan Abram (24) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Jordan Roos (60) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Gabe Jackson (66) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Sam Young (70) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chris Smith (92) and tackle Sam Young (70) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Denzelle Good (71) and linebacker Kyle Emanuel (52) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (12) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Theo Riddick (35) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Rico Gafford (10) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Kendal Vickers (78) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tanner Muse (55) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden and wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Keelan Doss (18) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chris Smith (92) and guard Gabe Jackson (66) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chris Smith (92) and guard Gabe Jackson (66) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Madre Harper (43) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Madre Harper (43) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
A Las Vegas Raiders helmet on the field during 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) and kicker Daniel Carlson (2) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Javin White (53) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeff Heath (38), tight end Darren Waller (83), and linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Lynn Bowden Jr. (33) and defensive end Kendal Vickers (78) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Theo Riddick (35) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders on the field during 2020 Training Camp.
"I wanted to get to Vegas as soon as possible," Jones said. "Just commit to making this a home for myself, and establishing that relationship especially with 'D.C.' [Derek Carr] It was different from last year, transitioning into a team not really knowing anybody. Those are conversations that you would usually have in the offseason didn't take place for me, so I was kind of playing catchup with the team all last year.
"This summer was very important for me just to get around the guys, especially get around him and understand his language, the way he talks. Just building a genuine relationship with him even outside of football, because the football stuff is going to take care of itself."
The strength of Jones' game lies in his speed and agility, and to get back to a place where he feels in peak condition, he cut weight this offseason. Dropping a few pounds has improved Jones' quickness and route running, which GM Mike Mayock has noticed.
"Could not be more proud of Nelson Agholor and Zay Jones to start with," he said Tuesday. "Nelson Agholor is on a mission, and Zay Jones is also. They're in as good of shape as any two players we have on the team. Their route running for both of them has improved. Their concentration has been outstanding and I think our coaches have a plan for those guys. It starts with those two guys and you say, 'Wow.' We can see a huge difference in Zay from last year to this year. I'm proud of the way he came to camp."
Now that Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, and Nelson Agholor are in the mix, it feels like Jones has been a forgotten member of the offense from the outside looking in, but in the eyes of the coaching staff, he's very much in the picture.
Determined to establish himself, Jones is settling into Las Vegas nicely.
