After watching Jacob Phillips struggle since the injury to Anthony Walker Jr., the Cleveland Browns have apparently seen enough. After getting gashed in back-to-back weeks, including the latest meltdown against the run against the Los Angeles Chargers, a late at night trade comes down. The Browns have made a deal with the Atlanta Falcons for linebacker Deion Jones. The Browns will only have to swap late round picks with the Falcons for this acquisition.
Jones’ best days are largely in the past, as he was just a shell of himself a year ago for the Falcons, and has yet to see the field in 2022 as he has been shelfed on the Injured Reserve in Atlanta. This is a low risk, low cost move, but the expectation that he will turn the second level around is low as well.
Sources: The #Browns are adding some key help in the middle of their defense, trading for #Falcons Pro Bowl LB Deion Jones in exchange for late-round draft compensation. pic.twitter.com/jaogjvtjy8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 10, 2022
The Browns will be on the hook for just his $1.39 million base salary, plus an additional $31,250 per game he’s active as well per Tom Pelissero. Taking on pennies of a contract just to swap late round picks is a no risk move by general manager Andrew Berry and his team.