Just because linebacker isn't a premium position in the modern NFL doesn't mean teams can afford to get cheap at that position. The Seattle Seahawks tried that route at the outset of the 2024 season and quickly learned their lesson. Neither Tyrel Dodson nor Jerome Baker performed well as Seattle's starting linbackers and both were gone before Thanksgiving.
Dodson was outright released, and Baker was traded to the Tennessee Titans along with a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for Ernest Jones. That move turned out to be a turning point for Seattle's defense, which immediately went from one of the league's worst units against the run to one of the best. The addition of standout rookie Tyrice Knight to the linup helped, but Jones was the real reason for the dramatic improvement.
And yet, the Seahawks still haven't managed to sign him to long-term deal, even though free agency is now just three weeks away. Losing Jones to another team would not only mean losing a fourth-round pick for nothing - it would be a crushing blow to Seattle's defense. One analyst is predicting that Jones will wind up signing with the Denver Broncos.
"Denver has to make a splash here, and I would truly be shocked if we did not see one in free agency this year. My guess is that the team ultimately lands on Ernest Jones, who, in 2024, had 138 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three QB hits, and allowed an 85.6 passer rating when in coverage."
