The Seattle Seahawks have made a notable trade, acquiring Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV in exchange for their starting linebacker Jerome Baker and a future fourth-round pick, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson. This marks one of the first significant roster moves under Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. 

Coach Macdonald appears to favor Jones over Baker, who had signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Seattle this offseason. Jones is coming off a standout 2023 season with the Los Angeles Rams, where he posted career highs with 145 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6 quarterback hits, and 4.5 sacks in 15 starts. The veteran linebacker was also part of the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2021 and was drafted by the Rams in the third round (No. 103 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones ranks seventh among linebackers in tackles for loss through the first seven weeks of this season.

Jones was traded to the Titans in August 2024 in a deal with the Rams, which essentially involved a late-round pick swap. Now, Tennessee gains solid value by acquiring Baker and a future fourth-round pick in this new trade with Seattle.

“Seahawks are trading Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick to the Titans for Ernest Jones. I had been told Seattle was looking for linebacker upgrades,” said Sports Illustrated’s Corbin Smith in an October 23, 2024, post on X. “They just landed one. Ernest Jones turns 25 next month and is in the prime of his career, fitting the athletic, ball-hawking linebacker profile that Mike Macdonald prefers.”

However, Seattle will soon face a decision regarding Jones’ future, as he is in the final year of his four-year, $4.7 million rookie contract and will become a free agent in 2025. Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Jones as a tough, blue-collar linebacker with strong field IQ, though limited speed and athleticism might restrict his role to more of a two-down player in a 3-4 defense.