2023 NFC Notable Cuts: 5 surprising players who were shown exit door ft. Will Grier

4) Deion Jones

Deion Jones with the Atlanta Falcons

Deion Jones is one of the best linebackers in recent Atlanta Falcons history. When he was a rookie, they reached the Super Bowl, and he made the Pro Bowl as a sophomore. And even as the Falcons' title, then playoff aspirations crumbled, he remained relatively healthy and prolific, especially after 2018.

After a year with the Cleveland Browns, Jones headed to the Panthers. Now here was a proven player who could complement fellow Pro Bowler Brian Burns... or so it seemed. Instead, he was shown the door.