The NFL preseason officially closed out its second week with a wild card move that dropped linebacker Deion Jones from the Saints to the San Francisco 49ers. In return? The New Orleans Saints snagged running back Zamir White, a guy who just signed with the 49ers less than two weeks ago. This transaction is all about patching up some serious roster holes, especially for the Saints, whose running back group has been absolutely decimated by injuries.
Saints: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
The Saints’ backfield? Oh man, it’s a MASH unit out there. Number two running back Alvin Kamara is battling an MCL sprain. That’s a huge hit, and it means Travis Etienne is suddenly looking at the undisputed RB1 spot if Kamara’s absence carries into the regular season. But it gets worse. Devin Neal aggravated a hamstring injury just this past Saturday in a preseason game, and Audric Estime? He twisted his ankle in the preseason opener! That means the Saints were staring down the barrel with their second, fourth, and fifth options on their unofficial depth chart all on the shelf. Total chaos.
So, White stepping in? It’s not just a move; it’s a lifeline. He arrives in New Orleans with a real chance to see playing time early in the campaign. White spent the first four years of his career with the Raiders, accumulating 736 rushing yards over 45 games, so he’s got experience. His addition should keep that running back room afloat through the rest of training camp, and he’s capable of eating up a few snaps in the opening weeks of the regular season if called upon. And the kicker? They picked him up without taking on extra salary, all while offloading Deion Jones, who was basically a roster bubble guy, a fourth-teamer, and a cut candidate anyway. The Saints earned a B- grade for this one, but honestly, it feels like a win for a team just trying to stay above water.
49ers: Filling a Gap, But At What Cost?
On the other side of the deal, the 49ers were in need of linebacker depth themselves. With only Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune available, Deion Jones fits the mold of a third option perfectly. Jones, who most recently played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and tallied 29 tackles in 17 games last year, could even push Bethune for that primary backup role. Bethune, though, did make eight starts in 2025 when Warner suffered his gruesome ankle injury, so he’s definitely still a factor in the team’s plans.
Regardless of how Jones slots in, all San Francisco had to part with to acquire him was Zamir White, a deep backup who, at best, was sixth in line for carries on their depth chart. White had only signed with the 49ers less than two weeks ago on a one-year, $1.2 million deal, projected to be at the lower rungs of their depth chart anyway. The 49ers earned a C+ grade for the move.
This trade is all about immediate depth for both teams. For the Saints, it’s a desperate plea for help in a backfield ravaged by injuries, banking on White to provide some early-season stability. For the 49ers, it’s a calculated move to bolster their linebacker corps. It’ll be fascinating to see how these depth pieces perform and what kind of impact they truly have once the regular season gets rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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