Deion Jones Set To Move To Cleveland After Being Grounded In Atlanta

KEY POINTS

Deion Jones finds a new home as the Browns and Falcons iron out the deal for his transfer
The Browns are hoping to address the linebacker void with Jones in tow
Cleveland can rely on Jones as long as he is healthy

The Atlanta Falcons finally have a taker for disgruntled linebacker Deion Jones.

The 27-year-old was once considered one of the promising defensive stars on defense for the Falcons, but injuries and internal issues somehow stopped all that.

Now, Jones hopes to revive his career and this may happen with the Cleveland Browns.

The Pro Bowl champion is reportedly finalizing a deal that would send the former NFL second-round pick to the Browns in exchange for 2024 late-round draft picks according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

The Falcons will also carry a dead cap of $12.14 million in 2023 according to NFL media.

Jones still has two years left in his four-year, $57 million extension that he signed in 2019.

With the deal, Atlanta will save about $22 million from 2022 to 2024.

Moreover, this means that the Browns are only required to pay Jones $1.39 million for the remainder of this NFL season, including up to $320,000 in incentives for games played.

Looking ahead, Jones will have to speed up his conditioning before his true potential can be seen with the Browns.

He underwent shoulder surgery in May and missed most of the training camp.

During the preseason, he saw limited playing time.

Atlanta had been trying to trade the Louisiana native amid his rehab, but concerns grew about his attitude and work ethic.

However, the good news is that he gets a chance to start fresh.

Jones has proven to be an efficient starter. In five seasons where he played at least 15 games, he has been topping 100 tackles.

But it was during the 2016-17 season when shone brightly, the same year he was considered a strong contender for the Defensive Rookie of the Year citation.

He had a combined 14 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and two touchdowns in that NFL season.

Cleveland is no stranger to taking risks on controversial players, but they need a linebacker following the exit of Anthony Walker Jr.

So far this season, the Browns have surrendered the fifth-most rushing yards, hoping that this is addressed with the impending arrival of Jones.