On the same day the NFL revealed the 2024 salary cap would jump $30 million from last season, the Washington Commanders signed a linebacker.
We have signed LB Keandre Jones as a free agent pic.twitter.com/aqRSrJ4Q8d
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 23, 2024
The team announced it had signed free-agent linebacker Keandre Jones. Jones, 26, is a native of Olney, Md., and played high school football at Good Counsel. He committed to Ohio State out of high school, where he spent three seasons before transferring to Maryland for his final season in 2019.
Jones was a college teammate of Terry McLaurin, Chase Young and the late Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State.
Jones signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 NFL draft. The Bears waived him during final cuts that summer, and he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.
Jones played three seasons for the Bengals, appearing in eight games and making four tackles. He was waived during final cuts last summer and did not play in 2023.
The Commanders need help at linebacker. While Jones is viewed as more of a depth signing for Washington, he could push for a role on special teams. The Commanders are thin at the position, and new head coach Dan Quinn will value linebackers more than the previous regime.
Washington has around $87 million in salary cap space ahead of the free agency next month.