Ernest Jones IV trade leaves the LA Rams ridiculously short-changed

So are you ready to move on from the frustration of the LA Rams willingness to trade leading tackler Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans. Well, buckle up, because there is one more chapter to this tale, and you are almost certainly not going to like it. You see, that trade just got hopelessly ugly, and it calls into question exactly what and who is negotiating trade terms in the Rams front office.

At the time, we called out the trade terms as extremely underwhelming. After all, the Rams were not trading away some unproven rookie. The Rams were trading a veteran inside linebacker who led the team in tackles, was a defensive captain, and who was the glue of the very young defense in 2023. That defense surpassed all expectations.

In return for a solid contributor, the Rams settled for a Round 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

In a word, it was and is a pathetic return.

To emphasize the point of the Rams settling for a bag of chips and a six-pack for their defensive captain, the Tennessee Titans flipped Ernest Jones IV after just six games. Did they settle for upgrading a sixth-round pick for a fifth-round pick? Heavens no. They demanded and got a Round 4 draft pick, PLUS a rather respectable inside linebacker who is competing in his seventh NFL season, Jerome Baker.

And there is no comparison. Jerome Baker would be a huge upgrade over any inside linebacker competing for the LA Rams right now.

This latest trade news about the Titans and that monumental return for a player who was just traded less than two months ago for nothing is heartbreaking. The LA Rams would certainly love to have a Round 4 pick over a Round 5 for a Round 6 pick. And to add insult to injury, that Round 4 pick may come in the the 2025 NFL Draft, while the Rams must wait for the 2026 NFL Draft to benefit from their trade.

And getting Jerome Baker too? Seriously? Baker is not just a solid veteran, but he is versatile enough to play either inside or outside linebacker. And the Seattle Seahawks are more than happy to send him and a Round 4 pick to the Titans for Ernest Jones.

The LA Rams parted with Ernest Jones prematurely. Now, they will have to face him twice a year as a reminder.

As always, thanks for reading.

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