Evaluating the Seattle Seahawks' trade for LB Ernest Jones IV

Mike Macdonald has added a new weapon to his defense after the Seattle Seahawks acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday.

It was the team's second trade for a defensive player in consecutive weeks when it acquired defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris from the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 14.

The 24-year-old Jones is undeniably one of the league's best inside linebackers and has helped bolster the defense of the Los Angeles Rams – Seattle's division rivals – in his first three seasons in the NFL. He was traded to the Titans prior to the 2024 season, including a late-round pick swap in 2026.

Seattle gave up more than the Titans, sending starting linebacker Jerome Baker and a 2025 fourth-rounder. But that suggests the Seahawks have long-term plans to keep Jones in a Seattle jersey, and the Rams would never have Jones on one Submitted to division rivals.

General manager John Schneider has to view the move similarly to the trade they made last season for defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Seattle sent a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder to the New York Giants and made Williams' new contract a top priority this offseason.

The Seahawks then lost linebacker Jordyn Brooks to the Miami Dolphins and signed Baker and Tyrel Dodson each to one-year contracts. With Seattle struggling to defend the run, an adjustment was necessary. That's one of Jones' specialties, plus he's one of the best blitzing linebackers in the league.

Still, a fourth-round pick and your current starter isn't cheap. There is no guarantee that Jones will want to re-sign or be willing to negotiate a contract extension in the offseason. If that's the case, Seattle can at least expect a decent compensatory pick in return.

Jones is three years younger than Baker and is a better option in the long run if he continues to emerge as one of the NFL's best defenders. He will have a massive contract after this season, but Schneider and Macdonald need to have a plan for that.

If he were to receive a four-year deal averaging $15 million per year, Jones would be the fourth-highest paid linebacker in the league behind Tremaine Edmunds ($18 million APY) and ahead of Matt Milano ($14.16 million APY). Roquan Smith is the highest-paid player at the position at $20 million per year.

The fit is also perfect. Jones played in a similar scheme to Macdonald's at Tennessee under defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who was the defensive line coach in Baltimore last season. He should immediately slot in as a starter next to Dodson.

Macdonald has extensive experience coaching linebackers, so it's fair to assume Jones was a player he had his eye on for some time. With the Titans struggling and selling their best players, Macdonald took advantage.

How does the Jones trade work for the Seahawks? Watch our latest video above where Corbin Smith and Connor Benintendi discuss the pros and cons of the move for Seattle and what Jones has to offer as a member of the Seahawks.

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Seahawks Analysis: How does Ernest Jones improve Mike Macdonald's defense?

Seahawks trade Jerome Baker, 2025 pick, for Titans' LB Ernest Jones IV