Seahawks Strike Bargain Extending Ernest Jones Through 2027
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East Rutherford, New Jersey. 01st Dec, 2024. Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) during a NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Credit Image: © Duncan Williams/Cal Sport Media) [/caption]
With the clock ticking down to the start of free agency, the Seattle Seahawks tied up months of negotiations and beat the clock to ensure that veteran linebacker Ernest Jones wouldn’t hit the market later this week.
Providing some much-needed positive news for fans after the franchise traded away quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders on Friday and sent receiver DK Metcalf to the Steelers on Sunday, per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Seahawks have locked up Jones on a three-year, $33 million deal with $15 million in guarantees, keeping him in the Pacific Northwest through the 2027 season at a price point lower than most expected.
Acquired prior to the trade deadline by Seattle in a trade with Tennessee in exchange for a fourth-round pick and veteran Jerome Baker, Jones’ arrival transformed coach Mike Macdonald’s defense seemingly overnight with him flying all over the field making plays, as the unit allowed under 19 points per game and improved their run defense by nearly 50 yards per game in the last eight games, finishing with six wins down the stretch. Individually, he tallied 94 combined tackles in 10 games after the trade, adding an interception, a forced fumble, and a partial sack while solidifying the middle of the unit.
Per Pro Football Focus charting, Jones ranked 11th among linebackers from Week 10 to Week 18 in solo tackles against the run, fifth in run stop percentage, fifth in run stop total, and 11th in yards allowed per catch in coverage, stacking up against the best of the best at his position as an all-around player.
Based on those numbers and his youth at 25 years of age, many expected Jones to command top-five linebacker money in the $13-plus million range, especially in a market that appeared to be hotter than anticipated. The Eagles inked Zach Baun for $51 million on a three-year deal earlier in the week and the Chiefs secured Nick Bolton with a three-year, $45 million deal earlier on Sunday, suggesting the former South Carolina star could fetch similar money as a free agent and that $15 million per season may be his floor on an extension.
Instead, however, Seahawks general manager John Schneider and the front office were able to prevent Jones from testing the market and managed to do so without forking over top-five money to retain him. Under the terms of the reported contract, accounting for Baun, Bolton, and Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard signing contracts worth more than $12.5 million per year, he will rank no higher than 10th in average salary among linebackers entering the 2025 season, an outstanding value for a player whose best football should still remain out in front of him as a foundational centerpiece in Macdonald’s defense moving forward.
Comparatively, Jones’ stat line over his first four seasons nearly mirrors Bolton, with both players surpassing the 100-tackle mark three times, intercepting four passes, and forcing two fumbles. Jones actually holds a slight edge with more sacks and more pass breakups, while Bolton has nearly double the number of tackles for loss, but for the most part, their numbers are near identical, which makes Seattle’s deal coming in at $4 million less per year a real bargain.
While more details on Jones’ contract will be disclosed in coming days, including his cap hit for the upcoming season and the distribution of guaranteed money, this development stands out as a massive victory for Schneider on a week where he has been under fire for the decision to trade Smith as well as Metcalf’s reported trade request. Without breaking the bank or overpaying to keep him, the franchise now has an exciting young combo with Jones and 2024 fourth-round pick Tyrice Knight under contract for the next three years together minimum, allowing for continuity at a position that has undergone constant change in recent years.
In reality, this hits the mark as a win-win for both the player and the team, as Jones has a chance to continue improving over the next three years in a defense that accentuates his strengths with the opportunity to earn Pro Bowl and/or All-Pro accolades and hit the market with a chance for an even bigger deal at the age of 28, while Seattle secures the future at linebacker.
With Jones now in tow for the next three years and the top priority for the front office now checked off, Schneider should still have plenty of financial flexibility to pursue Sam Darnold or another veteran quarterback as Smith’s replacement along with seeking offensive line help and a complementary receiver to pair with Jaxon Smith-Njigba in free agency. Getting this deal done before the action truly gets rolling on Monday will set the Seahawks up to be aggressive early if they wish, making it an ideal situation on the eve of a new league year.
