Brady Henderson has confirmed the Seahawks are sending a 2025 fourth rounder to the Titans, plus Jerome Baker, for the former Rams linebacker Ernest Jones.

My initial thought is I don’t know what to make of this move. While it’ll be a decent immediate benefit if the Seahawks gain better run defense and health at the linebacker position, Jones only cost the Titans a swap of 2026 late round picks a few weeks ago (a sixth for a fifth). Now, seven games into the season, his price has suddenly jumped to a fourth rounder in 2025.

That doesn’t really make sense in terms of value from a Seahawks perspective.

Furthermore, it’s very much a rental deal. Jones is out of contract in the off-season. It’s possible this is a trade with a view to retaining him beyond 2024 if things work out. If not, they just spent a non-throwaway pick on a short-term measure that I’m not entirely sure will be a quick fix.

It could be. Jones’ run defense grade last season, per PFF, was a superb 90.0. The year before it was a 78.8. Let’s not forget though that he was playing behind Aaron Donald in LA. Without Donald, Jones’ run defense grade dropped to 68.4. Jerome Baker’s was a 62.6.

It also speaks a little bit to a lack of trust in Tyrice Knight, who they recently used a fourth round pick on, that they felt obliged to spend a decent amount to replace Baker, rather than just give Knight more opportunities.

I’m sure someone will point out that if he leaves as a free agent next off-season he could get a contract that returns a comp pick to Seattle. I’d suggest that might be unlikely given he was dealt by the Rams for so little to Tennessee and now he’s been traded again to the Seahawks. Perhaps Mike Macdonald can elevate his play to the level where a big contract is forthcoming? The Rams made a decision they wouldn’t pay him, which is why he wanted a trade in the first place.

The Seahawks are scheduled to have two fourth round picks in 2025 thanks to a comp pick — so you could reason it’s a worthwhile shot to see if Jones can provide an answer for Seattle. It just all feels a bit like a ‘band-aid’. That once again the team is trying to fix issues during a season — and this one (run defense) has been around for too long now, through two Head Coaches.

I’ve not studied Jones’ play enough in LA or Tennessee to have an opinion on whether he’s likely to become a figurehead for the defense. Per PFF, he had a breakout 2023 but has otherwise not had spectacular grades. He has a reputation for being a physical, thumping linebacker. They do need more of that. If he plays lights out, adds further tone-setting to the defense, shores up the run and eventually signs an extension — spending a fourth rounder won’t be a problem in the slightest. The risk of a rental is always that, on the other side, if he just walks away in a few months it won’t be great.

I look forward to watching him play and seeing if Seattle can fix their problems defending the run. I’m just not keen on the price — Baker plus a 2024 fourth rounder for 10 games of Jones, when the Titans didn’t even give up a pick to acquire him before the season — doesn’t sound right.