The 49ers have made a surprising swap, sending running back Zamir White to the Saints while bringing in veteran linebacker Deion Jones, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Jones arrives with plenty of mileage and familiarity with the coaching staff. The 31-year-old entered the league in 2016 as a second-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, back when Kyle Shanahan was Atlanta’s offensive coordinator and Raheem Morris was on the Falcons’ staff as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.
Morris later worked more closely with Jones in 2020, when he served as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator and interim head coach. Jones’ run in Atlanta ended after the 2021 season.
Since then, he’s bounced around the league, spending one season with the Cleveland Browns, one with the Carolina Panthers and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Over 10 NFL seasons, Jones has appeared in 128 games with 91 starts. He hasn’t made a start since 2023. His career line includes 761 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, 13 interceptions and five forced fumbles.
Where he lands in San Francisco’s linebacker group is still unclear. The 49ers already have a crowded room there, with a mix of veterans and younger players, but Jones did log a career-high 270 special teams snaps last season in Tampa Bay. That could make him a useful upgrade over someone like Luke Gifford, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for most of camp.
San Francisco also has some injury issues at linebacker, which could make Jones more valuable right away. His experience in Morris’ system gives him a chance to contribute quickly, possibly in the preseason finale. If he doesn’t stick on the active roster, there may still be a practice squad opening for him.
White, meanwhile, had already seen the field in both of the 49ers’ first two preseason games. The former Raiders fourth-round pick ran for 30 yards on 14 carries. But with Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James and Kaelon Black back in the mix, plus veterans Khalil Herbert and Sincere McCormick, San Francisco had a running back spot to spare.
In Other News...
Saints Finally Made The Kicker Move Fans Were Waiting On
The Saints have made the kicker change that had been looming through training camp, signing two-time All-Pro Daniel Carlson as they look to settle a spot that never really stabilized. Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth both had chances to separate themselves, but neither did enough to lock down the job, leaving New Orleans to turn to a more established option with the regular season drawing closer.
Carlson arrives with eight seasons of experience from his time with the Raiders, giving the Saints a veteran leg and a much clearer track record than the competition they just moved on from. For a team that has spent the summer searching for reliability in the kicking game, the addition is less about flash than certainty, and that is exactly what New Orleans has been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Make A Backfield Move With Alvin Kamara Suddenly In Focus
The Saints are making another backfield adjustment as Alvin Kamaras knee injury keeps the spotlight on their depth chart. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, New Orleans is sending linebacker Deion Jones to the 49ers in exchange for running back Zamir White, a move that gives the Saints another option behind Kamara at a time when every healthy body in the run game matters.
White arrives after recently signing with San Francisco as a free agent, while Jones brings a long league rsum that includes stops with multiple teams and contract restructures along the way. For New Orleans, the deal is less about the defensive side of the exchange and more about shoring up a position that has become more fragile with Kamaras status hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Preseason Blowout Exposed A Depth Chart Problem Fast
The Saints second preseason game turned into a rough reminder of how quickly a depth chart can get exposed in August, with a 34-0 loss to the Rams shaped by turnovers, penalties and an offense that never found a rhythm on the ground. The backup quarterback battle also stayed murky, as Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler both had trouble separating themselves while the offense sputtered around them.
New Orleans still found a few individual bright spots in the lopsided defeat, with rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller flashing up front and running backs Kendre Miller and C.J. Donaldson each making their presence felt. But 12 penalties and the injuries to Devin Neal and Moliki Matavao only added to the sense that the Saints are still sorting out the lower half of the roster, and the next few weeks should say plenty about how much trust this group really has earned. [Read more 🡒]