Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Deion Jones is staying in the NFC South, and his latest stop will complete an unusual trip around the entire division.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jones is signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. The move means the veteran linebacker will have been a member of all four NFC South franchises during his NFL career after previous stops with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Buccaneers.
New Orleans also represents a homecoming for Jones. The veteran was born and raised in New Orleans, played his high school football in the area, and remained in Louisiana to play collegiately at LSU before entering the NFL.
Jones spent the past two seasons in Tampa Bay, although his defensive role was limited. He played just 18 defensive snaps in 2024 before seeing his workload increase to 121 snaps last season. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones finished 2025 with a 41.6 overall defensive grade while recording nine tackles and six assists.
His best years came much earlier in his career with Atlanta. Jones spent his first six NFL seasons with the Falcons after they selected him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He later spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Panthers before eventually landing in Tampa Bay.
Now Jones heads back into the NFC South with a familiar opponent. Instead of potentially facing the Saints twice a year as a member of the Buccaneers, he’ll have an opportunity to line up against his former Tampa Bay teammates in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Former Bucs linebacker signs with division rival
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