New Orleans Saints Trade Veteran Linebacker for Running Back Depth
The New Orleans Saints have made a surprising move to strengthen their running back depth, trading veteran linebacker Deion Jones to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for former Georgia Bulldogs running back Zamir White.
Jones had only joined the Saints a few weeks ago on a one-year contract, but he has already moved on to a new team. White also signed a one-year deal this offseason after spending the first few seasons of his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders. Las Vegas selected him in the fourth round of the draft, but he struggled to make a significant impact during his time with the organization.
Adam Schefter reported the move, stating that New Orleans was sending Jones to San Francisco in exchange for White.
The Saints appear set at the top of their running back depth chart, with Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara firmly established as the top two options. The bigger concern comes further down the roster, where New Orleans has several backs who have yet to prove themselves consistently at the NFL level.
White now joins a crowded competition that includes Devin Neal, Audric Estime, Kendre Miller, Ty Chandler, and CJ Donaldson. The situation is particularly important with Kamara, Neal, and Estime currently dealing with injuries.
On the other side of the ball, New Orleans apparently feels comfortable enough with its linebacker depth to move on from Jones. Pete Werner and Kaden Elliss headline the linebacker group, with both expected to play important roles in coverage for the Saints.
Saints Add Zamir White
It remains difficult to determine exactly what White will bring to New Orleans. Despite receiving opportunities throughout his career, the former Raiders running back has yet to establish himself as a reliable NFL contributor.
Through four seasons, White has recorded 888 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 223 touches across 45 games. His career success rate sits at just 40.4%, highlighting his struggles to consistently generate production.
White’s future in Las Vegas also became increasingly uncertain after the Raiders selected Ashton Jeanty in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft. With Jeanty entering the picture, White’s time with the Raiders appeared to be coming to an end.
Jones, meanwhile, had transitioned into more of a reserve role late in his career. Earlier in his career, he was a full-time starter for six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before joining the Cleveland Browns. He later spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, moving around the NFC South before signing with New Orleans.
Now, Jones will attempt to earn a spot on San Francisco’s 53-man roster.
Saints Have Plenty of Running Back Competition
White’s preseason performance doesn’t necessarily suggest that he will immediately solve New Orleans’ depth concerns. During the 49ers’ second preseason game, he carried the ball 12 times for 29 yards. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall offensive grade of 48.7.
That production does little to inspire confidence, especially considering the number of other running backs already competing for opportunities in New Orleans.
Still, the trade likely indicates that the Saints weren’t planning to keep Jones on their final roster and wanted to take a chance on adding another option at running back. With several players currently dealing with injuries, bringing in an experienced back gives New Orleans another body for the competition.
The move may be somewhat unexpected, but the Saints clearly believe White is worth taking a chance on. Whether he can turn that opportunity into a meaningful role remains to be seen.
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