NFL fans should be ready for a flurry of moves from their teams headed into the final week of preseason play — a spate that kicked off Sunday night with a trade involving former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Deion Jones.
“Trade: the Saints are sending veteran LB Deion Jones to San Francisco in exchange for RB Zamir White, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Sunday.
Jones, 31, was a 2nd-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 NFL Draft and was a plug-and-play starter as a rookie when he led the NFL with 165 return yards on 3 interceptions. He played 6 seasons for the Falcons before spending 1 season with the Cleveland Browns in 2022, 1 season with the Carolina Panthers in 2023, and then the last 2 seasons with the Buccaneers.
Through his 1st 10 NFL seasons, Jones has earned approximately $52.3 million in salary.
Deion Jones Did Dirty Work in 2 Seasons With Bucs
In 2025, Jones played all 17 regular-season games for the Buccaneers in a primarily backup and special-teams role. He finished the season with 29 tackles.
“How do you feel about the trade sending Zamir White, who was just signed as depth and not likely to make the final roster to New Orleans, for Deion Jones, who will reunite with Raheem Morris?” Our SF 49ers wrote on its official X account. “Jones had his best season in the league when he played for Morris in Atlanta.”
Bucs Won’t Look the Same at Inside Linebacker
Buccaneers fans might not recognize the group of inside linebackers the team trots out for the 2026 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
After the retirement of legendary linebacker and defensive centerpiece Lavonte David, the Buccaneers not only signed a pair of starters in free agency with Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom, but also drafted a firestarter in the 2nd round with Mizzou inside linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton put Trotter at the top of his list of rookies who could be Day 1 starters in 2026.
“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may start a new inside linebacker tandem in the upcoming season,” Moton wrote. “Last year, Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis manned those positions. The former retired, and the latter has competition for the other spot. The Buccaneers signed linebacker Alex Anzalone to a two-year, $17 million deal. He’ll likely start. The club selected Josiah Trotter in the second round of the draft. Of course, Trotter has pro linebacker bloodlines. He’s the son of 12-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, though the 21-year-old made a name for himself on the collegiate level … if he’s able to showcase his ability to handle coverage assignments, the rookie will push Dennis and beat out free-agent acquisition Christian Rozeboom for a starting role.”
$52 Million Ex-Buccaneers LB Traded to San Francisco 49ers