Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Letting defensive standout seek trade carries risk for Rams

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 25, 2024 2:01 PM ET

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly letting linebacker Ernest Jones IV explore other options after they failed to agree on a potential extension.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Rams have allowed Jones and his agents to seek a trade. The 103rd overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and his 2024 base salary is $3.116M.

Sources: #Rams have granted linebacker Ernest Jones IV and his agents permission to seek a trade.

Jones, a 2025 free agent, is L.A.’s defensive play caller with 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks last year. Sides discussed an extension, but with no progress, Rams open to trade. pic.twitter.com/QaMkuDj0Ko
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 25, 2024

Moving on from Jones would be a head-scratcher for the Rams. In 15 games last season, he finished 11th in the league in total tackles with 145, a career high. He also set career bests in total pressures (33) and hurries (26), per Pro Football Focus.

Trading Jones could alter the Rams' defensive scheme. According to ESPN, Jones serves as the playcaller in Los Angeles' defense, and general manager Les Snead has called him its "leader."

Losing Jones wouldn't be ideal for a unit that already underwent some changes this offseason. In March, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who made 10 Pro Bowls in 10 seasons with the Rams, retired. L.A. also promoted Chris Shula to defensive coordinator after the Atlanta Falcons hired Raheem Morris as head coach.

Greg Beacham of the Associated Press noted that the Rams haven't signed inside LBs, like Jones, to pricey extensions since returning to L.A. in 2016. They probably don't want to overpay for a player who hasn't made a Pro Bowl, either.

Still, placing Jones on the trade block carries risk. Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports suggested Super Bowl contenders, such as the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, may be interested in the 24-year-old and willing to give him a new deal.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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