SEATTLE — Waycross native and former Ware County High School All-State linebacker Ernest Jones IV is on the move again in his professional career.
Jones was traded Wednesday, October 23 by the Tennessee Titans to the Seattle Seahawks for linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth-round draft pick in 2025. The Titans had acquired the three-year veteran just before the start of this season from the Los Angeles Rams for a pair of draft picks, one each in 2025 and 2026.
The third-round draft pick of the Rams in 2021, played Sunday in the Seahawks 31-10 loss to Buffalo. He recorded seven tackles and eight assists to lead the team.
Jones, who earned a starting job midway through his rookie season of 2021, helped the Rams to a 23-20 victory against Cincinnati in the 2022 Super Bowl. He had seven tackles, a sack and pass deflection in that win.
In six games with Tennessee, Jones recorded 44 tackles to stand second on the team while playing 91 percent of the defensive snaps. He led the Titans in tackles in two games with 10 solos and two assists against Green Bay and six and three against the New York Jets.
Prior to the trade, Jones had career statistics of 364 tackles with five and one-half sacks, 14 passes defensed, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Three weeks ago, Jones was honored by the National Football League Players Association as its Week 6 Community MVP for providing more than 400 meals to Waycross residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. Jones received $10,000 from the NFLPA for his foundation or the charity of his choice for the aid.
Along with the other 2024-25 Community MVPs, Jones also will be eligible for the Alan Page Community Award, which is the NFLPA’s highest player honor and includes an additional $100,000 donation.
Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract, which includes a base salary of $3.116 million. The acquisition aids Seattle with its salary cap since Baker was on a $7 million, one-year contract after being signed as a free agent following six seasons in Miami.
Sources with the Seahawks told ESPN the club hopes to sign Jones to a new contract, but it hasn’t been its policy to extend the deals of players right after a trade.
