Quick Read
- Ernest Jones was the only linebacker drafted by the Rams in the top-103 picks during the McVay era.
- The Rams traded Jones instead of extending his contract, reflecting their long-standing strategy of undervaluing linebackers.
- Jones signed a three-year, $33 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks in spring 2025.
- The Rams have historically relied on undrafted free agents and budget signings at linebacker.
- The team recently made an exception by extending Nate Landman, hinting at a possible shift in philosophy.
Ernest Jones and the Rams: A Story of Value, Reluctance, and Change
For much of the last decade, the Los Angeles Rams have been defined as much by what they don’t do as by their headline-grabbing moves. Nowhere is this more evident than in their approach to linebackers. The story of Ernest Jones, a talented linebacker drafted by the Rams in 2021, is a revealing chapter in the team’s larger narrative—a tale of undervaluation, calculated risk, and, ultimately, change.
The Rams’ Linebacker Philosophy: Undervaluing the Core
Since Sean McVay and Les Snead took the reins in Los Angeles, the Rams have treated linebackers almost like spare parts. After a brief investment in Alec Ogletree back in 2017, which ended abruptly with his release just five months later, the team all but abandoned the position as a priority. Over eight years, the Rams didn’t spend a single top-100 draft pick on a linebacker—until Ernest Jones came along at pick 103 in 2021. He was the only linebacker chosen by this regime before the third day of the NFL Draft.
But when the time came to pay Jones after his rookie contract, the Rams stuck to their script. Rather than extend him, they traded him away for minimal compensation. For Jones, this was both a professional pivot and a clear sign of the Rams’ persistent philosophy: linebackers were not worth premium investment. Jones soon found a new home with the Seattle Seahawks, signing a three-year, $33 million extension in spring 2025.
Ernest Jones: On the Field and Beyond
Jones’s journey is emblematic of the wider NFL debate: Are linebackers still central to defense, or has the league moved on? During his time with the Rams, Jones became a reliable contributor, stepping up in a defense often populated by undrafted free agents. The Rams, after all, made their 2018 Super Bowl run with Cory Littleton—an undrafted player—leading the team in tackles, and repeated the feat in 2021 with Troy Reeder, another undrafted starter.
Jones’s consistency was notable amid a revolving door of personnel. But even with his steady play, the Rams leaned into their habit of prioritizing other positions, banking on their ability to develop overlooked talent. The emergence of undrafted linebackers like Omar Speights and Christian Rozeboom only reinforced the notion that the position could be filled without major investment.
The NFL Shifts: When Value Meets Necessity
The Rams’ linebacker policy wasn’t just about Jones. It reflected broader trends. The team routinely passed on top prospects at the position—opting for skill players or depth at running back rather than linebackers like Nick Bolton or Payton Wilson. Even Chris Paul Jr., a linebacker drafted inside the top-200, was cut after the preseason, replaced by another undrafted standout, Shaun Dolac.
This approach wasn’t without risk. The Rams’ run defense suffered at times, notably in their playoff losses to the Philadelphia Eagles where stopping the run proved a liability. Jones’s departure, paired with the team’s reliance on less heralded players, left gaps that needed filling. The arrival of Nate Landman—a rare exception to the Rams’ rule—signaled a subtle shift. Landman’s impact in run defense, his low missed tackle rate, and his leadership as a team captain were all factors that finally nudged the Rams toward a multi-year, $22.5 million extension.
Jones’s Move to Seattle: What Does It Mean?
For Ernest Jones, the transition to the Seahawks was more than a new contract; it was validation. The Seahawks saw his value where the Rams did not. Jones’s $33 million extension is testament to the shifting landscape of linebacker valuation across the league. While the Rams were able to re-sign Landman at a team-friendly rate, their reluctance to invest in Jones stands in contrast to teams that view linebackers as foundational pieces.
The Rams’ strategy is not unique, but it is distinctive. NFL defenses have increasingly sought smaller, faster players who excel in coverage, reflecting the league’s evolution toward speed and versatility. The Rams’ preference for light boxes and athletic linebackers fits this mold, but their willingness to move on from Jones suggests a belief that production can be replicated without paying a premium.
Lessons Learned: The Human Side of Team Building
Behind every transaction is a story. For Jones, the Rams’ decision was a crossroads—a moment where a player’s value was weighed against a team’s philosophy. While Landman’s extension hints at a possible shift, the Rams’ history suggests caution is still the rule. Jones’s journey reminds us that NFL careers are shaped not just by talent and production, but by the ever-changing priorities of front offices.
Ultimately, the story of Ernest Jones and the Rams is one of adaptation—by both player and team. As offenses evolve and defensive schemes adapt, the value of a reliable linebacker may rise and fall. For now, Jones’s move to Seattle closes one chapter and opens another, while the Rams continue to forge their own path, sometimes against the grain.
The facts show that Ernest Jones was a casualty of the Rams’ steadfast linebacker strategy—a system that prioritized flexibility and undervalued consistency. His new role in Seattle is not just a career move, but a reflection of how quickly team philosophies can shift when faced with changing league dynamics and individual performance. In the end, the Rams’ reluctance to invest in Jones stands as a lesson in the fine balance between tradition and adaptation in the modern NFL.