The 49ers have more defensive depth on the way.
San Francisco is acquiring 10-year NFL veteran linebacker Deion Jones in a trade with the New Orleans Saints in exchange for running back Zamir White, a league source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan on Sunday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the news.
League source confirms the #49ers are trading RB Zamir White in exchange for Saints LB Deion Jones as @AdamSchefter reported
— Jennifer Lee Chan -all platforms: @jenniferleechan (@jenniferleechan) August 24, 2026
In White, the Saints receive more help at running back after Alvin Kamara went down with a knee injury during the preseason. The 49ers just signed White on Aug. 12 as they dealt with backfield injuries of their own, but with Christian McCaffrey returning to practice Sunday, they’re in a much better spot.
Jones has spent time with six NFL teams, most recently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he spent plenty of time with the practice squad, before signing with the Saints earlier this month. The 31-year-old played under new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris from 2016-2020 on the Atlanta Falcons and was a Pro Bowl selection there in 2017.