The Saints just made some serious moves to shake up their roster, bringing in three new defenders and waving goodbye to one. The biggest splash? Easily linebacker Deion Jones, a nine-year NFL veteran who’s seen it all.
Deion Jones: A True NFL Journeyman Lands in New Orleans
Jones is no stranger to the league, that’s for sure. This guy was a second-round pick by the Falcons back in 2016, and he’s been balling ever since. He’s appeared in a staggering 128 regular-season games, with 91 starts, for a bunch of teams across his career: the Falcons from 2016-21, the Browns in 2022, the Panthers in 2023, and most recently the Buccaneers for the 2024-25 seasons. His stat sheet is just nuts: 746 tackles, 12 sacks, 13 interceptions, 53 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and even 15 special teams stops. You don’t get numbers like that without being a difference-maker, and now he’s bringing that experience to New Orleans.
Fresh Faces: Taylor and Williams Join the Defensive Ranks
It’s not just veteran firepower coming in though. The Saints are also injecting some fresh, young talent into their defensive line. They’ve signed defensive lineman Brien Taylor, who’s coming off two seasons at the University of Florida. In his 22 games there, Taylor racked up 38 tackles, five stops for loss, two sacks, and even forced a fumble. That’s solid college production. Then there’s pass rusher Malaki Williams, who wrapped up his redshirt senior campaign at Boise State in 2025 after spending four seasons at Idaho. These guys are hungry, and they’re looking to make an immediate impact.
One Defender Waived in the Shuffle
Of course, with new guys coming in, there’s always a corresponding move. The Saints waived defensive lineman Zxavian Harris as part of this roster shuffle. It’s a tough part of the business, but it clears the way for the new blood.
So, what does this mean for the Saints? With Jones bringing a ton of veteran leadership and playmaking ability, coupled with the raw energy from Taylor and Williams, the defensive unit in New Orleans is definitely getting a facelift. It’s going to be wild to see how these additions gel and whether they can boost that D. Keep an eye out for how they perform on the field!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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