Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Aug 24, 2026 10:00 AM
San Francisco bolsters its defensive interior and special teams depth, reuniting a Pro Bowl playmaker with Raheem Morris while clearing space in a crowded, McCaffrey-led backfield.
In a late night player-for-player swap ahead of the final week of the preseason, the San Francisco 49ers acquired veteran linebacker Deion Jones from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for running back Zamir White.
The move comes as Christian McCaffrey returned to practice following a brief absence due to lower body tightness, rendering White expandable in a backfield that also includes Sincere McCormick, Khalil Herbert, and rookie Kaelon Black.
Familiarity with Shanahan and Raheem Morris
Jones, 31, brings a deep history with San Francisco’s leadership. Selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft out of LSU, Jones played his rookie season under Kyle Shanahan, who was Atlanta's offensive coordinator at the time.
More importantly, Jones spent significant time developing under 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in Atlanta, including the 2020 season when Morris served as the Falcons' defensive coordinator and interim head coach. During his prime years in Atlanta, Jones was a 100 plus tackle machine, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2017.
Over his 10 year NFL career across stints with Atlanta, Cleveland, Carolina, and Tampa Bay, Jones has played in 128 games (91 starts), racking up 761 total tackles, 12.0 sacks, 53 passes defensed, 13 interceptions, five forced fumbles, and five defensive touchdowns.
Why the 49ers Made the Move: ILB Injuries & Pass-Rush Juice
The acquisition of Jones addresses two immediate needs on the San Francisco defense:
- Inside Linebacker Depth & Injuries: The 49ers' interior linebacking corps has taken hits in practice, with Nick Martin suffering a hamstring injury late in Thursday's game while Luke Gifford and Jalen Graham have dealt with practice absences. Jones provides proven veteran insurance behind starters Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.
- Blitz & Hustle Production: Raheem Morris values inside linebackers who can attack gaps aggressively. Last season with Tampa Bay, Jones generated a pressure on 23.1% of his pass rushes which was well above league average. Additionally, his speed remains intact, evidenced by recording multiple "hustle stops" (tackles made 20 plus yards from the line of scrimmage) in limited snaps.
What It Means for Jaden Dugger and the Bubble Linebackers
The addition of an established veteran like Jones sends shockwaves through the bottom of the linebacker depth chart:
- The Roster Bubble: Contenders like Tatum Bethune, Garret Wallow, Luke Gifford, and Jalen Graham now face an even tighter crunch for the 53 man roster.
- The Jaden Dugger Factor: Fifth round rookie Jaden Dugger has earned widespread praise throughout training camp for his positional flexibility as a safety turned linebacker. Earlier in camp, Morris experimented with Dugger taking reps on the edge. With edge rushers Nick Bosa (knee tendinitis) and Mykel Williams dealing with uncertain Week 1 availability, adding Jones at inside linebacker allows the coaching staff to officially pivot Dugger to the outside, unlocking immediate pass-rush snaps for the versatile rookie.
The Outlook
For Zamir White, the trade opens up an opportunity in New Orleans, where Alvin Kamara is dealing with a knee injury. For San Francisco, bringing in Deion Jones gives Raheem Morris a familiar veteran to solidify special teams and interior depth while opening the door for creative defensive alignments before final cuts.
Comments
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy