Rams fans left devastated as beloved rookie gets poached by bitter rival

The Los Angeles Rams drafted South Carolina inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV in Round 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft with the No. 103 overall pick. Four years later, the team drafted Missouri inside linebacker Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr. in Round 5 of the 2025 NFL Draft with the No. 172 overall pick. But regardless of their starting points, both players find themselves competing for NFC West Division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.

Fans were certainly strapped into an emotional rollercoaster after the team unexpectedly released Pooh Paul Jr. to fit under the 53-man roster limit. The disappointment turned to hope when the NFL waiver claims list was released, and Pooh Paul's name was not among the players claimed by other NFL teams.

But that hope soon fell back into heartbreak as reports surfaced that Pooh Paul will be signing to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad

Pooh Paul Jr. continues shameful tradition of Rams losing LBs to other teams

Paul will join former Rams ILB Ernest Jones, as well as WR Cooper Kupp, on a Seahawks team that is suddenly quite fond of former Rams players. And this compounds the heartbreak of Los Angeles already losing a whopping four players via NFL waiver claims.

This is not the first occasion for the team to lose an inside linebacker to another team's practice squad. In 2020, the team attempted to sneak Clay Johnston to the practice squad by releasing him. He had other ideas, though and ultimately signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad. Much like Paul's circumstance, fans were disappointed that the team would risk losing a proming young player.

Based on the popularity of Rams players this season, there was little that the team or front office could do to prevent mass attrition. Five players who were in the Horns just hours ago are now competing against the team. Not ideal.

Releasing players takes an emotional toll. But it may be that when those players are claimed or sign with another team that exacts an equally harsh toll. Fans who have cheered for a player and his NFL career discover they are now competing against the team. Unfortunately, as the team finds more and more success, facing former players will increase in frequency.

More Rams News and Analysis