The Los Angeles Rams have entered the offseason as losers of the Wild Card Round, falling short against the Detroit Lions 24-23. As such, they’ll turn their attention to the future.
Los Angeles general manager Les Snead already has this team better-suited for 2024 than most assumed entering the season. His 2023 rookie class, headlined by record-setting receiver Puka Nacua, accelerated the Rams’ rebuild and re-established them as playoff contenders.
Their five-win improvement wouldn’t be possible without the development of the young players on Los Angeles’ roster. Few, if any, took a bigger jump than third-year linebacker Ernest Jones IV.
Snead spoke this past week about the state of affairs heading into the offseason, including the possibility of extending Jones.
“Definitely the leader of the defense,” Snead said.
Jones set career-highs in several statistics this year, including tackles (145), sacks (4.5), tackles for loss (14), and passes defended (six). Unsurprisingly, Pro Football Focus gave him the best season-long grade (78.8) of his young career. Only defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner earned higher grades on the Rams defense.
Jones isn’t a free agent this offseason but will enter the 2024 season on an expiring contract if he isn’t extended in the coming months. After the season he had, Jones has done everything possible to cement himself as a part of Los Angeles’ future. Now, it’s Snead’s turn to do the same.
“In the past obviously we’d been invested in other positions …” Snead said. “He’s definitely someone we’ll discuss and someone we’d like to have around.”
Jones was asked to wear the green dot this year and thrived in the process. He’s long been considered a “natural leader” by head coach Sean McVay and was the most stable piece of the Rams’ back seven.
Los Angeles has enough resources to make legitimate improvements to its roster and extend its competitive window. Ensuring one of its own is here for the long haul should be a priority as the new league year approaches.
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