On November 4, 1994, Deion Jones, a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League, was born. During his NCAA football career, he played for Louisiana State University (LSU), and the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Jones started three seasons as a middle linebacker for Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Jones with the 52nd overall pick.
He was the first of two linebackers taken by the Falcons in 2016, along with fourth-round pick (115th overall) De’Vondre Campbell. He was the eighth linebacker selected in 2016.
On May 5, 2016, the Falcons signed Jones to a $4.54 million, four-year deal with $2.16 million in guaranteed money and a $1.50 million signing bonus.
Following Paul Worrilow’s free-agent departure from the Detroit Lions, Jones attended training camp with the intention of starting as a middle linebacker.
Jones extended his deal with the Falcons for four years and $57 million on July 17, 2019, with $34 million of that amount guaranteed.
Jameis Winston’s ball was intercepted by Jones in the regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he returned it for a score of 27 yards on the opening play of overtime to give his team a 28-22 victory on the road.
The Falcons traded Jones and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Cleveland Browns on October 10, 2022, in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick.
How Good Is Deion Jones?
While healthy, Jones has been a statistically successful starter, surpassing 100 tackles in each of the five seasons in which he’s appeared in at least 15 games.
His greatest grades came from 2016–17, a season in which he was considered for Defensive Rookie of the Year and racked up 14 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and two touchdowns.
What Happened To Deion Jones?
After having shoulder surgery in May, Jones missed most of training camp and only played a little part at the end of the preseason.