Falcons Trade LB Deion Jones to Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns made a trade with the Atlanta Falcons Sunday night, acquiring linebacker Deion Jones in exchange for late-round draft considerations, NFL Media reported.

The move fills a need at linebacker for the Browns, who lost starter Anthony Walker Jr. to a season-ending injury in Week 3. Jacob Phillips took Walker's place in Week 4 alongside starter Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Sione Takitaki has also seen time as a starting linebacker for Cleveland this season, and he and Phillips will be competing with Jones for playing time upon the latter's return from injured reserve.

"This is a win for both teams," said T.J. McCreight, former NFL player personnel director for the Eagles and current analyst for The 33rd Team. "The Falcons get a pick, which is what they were looking for, and the Browns get insurance at the position."

Jones began this season, his seventh with Atlanta, on injured reserve, and has not taken the field for the Falcons this season. He was the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason but began the year with the team when a trade could not be found, and the Falcons elected not to release him.

In his six years with Atlanta, Jones has been a starter at inside linebacker, making one Pro Bowl and finishing with at least 106 tackles in the five years he has played at least 15 games. However, with the offseason signing of Rahsaan Evans and the drafting of Troy Anderson in the second round, Jones' spot at the top of the depth chart was less assured than before, leading to the team exploring a trade for him.