Seahawks and Titans agree to trade LBs Jerome Baker and Ernest Jones

Ernest Jones returns to the NFC West and is involved in a second trade this year. The Titans and Seahawks are planning a linebacker-for-linebacker swap, NFL.com's Tom Pelissero reports.

Send the Seahawks Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick for Jones, who was originally traded from the Rams to the Titans in August. The contract-year linebacker will return to the Pacific Time Zone to complete his free agency audition. According to ESPN.com's Brady Henderson, it's the fourth in 2025.

This is the Titans seller's second trade of the day. The move comes a few hours after the team agreed to ship it DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs. This seems to be a slightly lesser known deal, but Tennessee secured a better return for Jones compared to Hopkins. After acquiring a conditional fifth-round pick for the former All-Pro receiver, the Titans now have Baker and a fourth coming back. Like Jones, Baker is in a contract year.

When the Rams informed Jones that he would not be extended this year, his camp was given permission to negotiate a trade. While Jones said he did not request a trade from Los Angeles, the Rams agreed to one at short notice. LA received a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick for Jones. Even though the season was almost half over, the Titans fared better in their Jones return.

A former Rams starter who played a role for the Super Bowl LVI team before being highly productive in 2022-23, Jones has started five games for the Titans. He leaves Tennessee with 44 tackles (second on the team) with three TFLs and two pass deflections. Jones, who briefly worked with UFA Kenneth Murray in Tennessee, the Rams led the way in 2023 with 145 tackles – totaling 4.5 sacks and 14 TFLs. This happened after Jones teamed up with Bobby Wagner as a starter in 2022.

The Seahawks had used free agency to fill their LB position, although they didn't make the type of commitment there that the Titans had made as part of their three-year Murray pact. Seattle signed Baker and Tyrel Dodsonwith the former being signed as a free agent on the road after being released by the Dolphins. Baker's second move of 2024 comes after he started all five games he played for Seattle. During his brief stint with the Seahawks, Baker made 30 tackles (two for a loss) and forced a fumble.

According to Pro Football Focus, Baker and Jones rank as off-ball backers this season, with Baker ranked 46th and Jones ranked 47th. PFF ranks Baker as a superior coverage linebacker, although Jones is a top-five at LB in 2023 -Overall option checked in. He will now have the chance to use the Seahawks as a springboard to a nice payday in 2025. However, the Seahawks retain exclusive right to negotiate with their newly acquired defenseman until the legal tampering deadline in March.

More will follow.