Ernest Jones trade grades: Who won the Rams-Titans deal?

The Los Angeles Rams made a pretty shocking move this week by trading linebacker Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans.

A defensive captain and starter in the middle of Los Angeles’ defense, Jones becoming available right before the regular season kicks off is not a plot twist most could’ve seen coming. He’s one of the better linebackers in the NFL and helped the Rams win a Super Bowl after the 2021 season.

Now, he’ll join a Titans team that has added a bunch of promising defensive veterans to the roster. His trade also leaves Los Angeles in a curious spot on defense in the midst of a big year for the former title champs.

Let’s break down this trade and see who emerged on the better side.

The details of the trade

Titans receive: LB Ernest Jones, a 2026 sixth-round pick

Rams receive: A 2026 fifth-round pick

Compensation update: Rams traded LB Ernest Jones and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Titans in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick. https://t.co/htKBq3B6c2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2024

This is an absolutely brilliant move by the Titans this close to the season if Jones comes over as the same player he was with the Rams. Jones fills a real need in the middle of the Tennessee defense, and his ability to blitz the passer will really shine alongside pass-rushing menaces like Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry along the defensive line. General manager Ran Carthon has been working overtime this offseason to add meaningful veteran talent to this side of the ball, and Jones is yet another savvy addition to the roster. We doubt the Titans make this move without intention to sign Jones to a new deal, as he’ll be a free agent in 2025. Even if it’s just a one-year rental, it’s a really smart one for the paltry draft compensation the team is sending L.A. Either way, what a stellar move for a Titans team poised to surprise this year.

Trade grade: A

Rams trade grade

The Rams are one of the best-run organizations in the NFL, as the team’s recent Super Bowl and overwhelming success under coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead underscore. However, this is a particularly confusing move for the team this close to the season with one of its best defensive players in Jones. The rise of undrafted LSU linebacker Omar Speights must have played a role in letting Jones go to another franchise, but only getting a 2026 fifth-round pick back just doesn’t feel right. Even if Speights is poised for a starting role on defense, why not keep Jones around for another year and capitalize on a better compensatory pick once he left as a free agent next spring? The team giving up a sixth-rounder to facilitate this trade makes it look even stranger. We’re inclined to give Los Angeles a least a little benefit of the doubt here, but there is a lot here we just don’t understand. This feels like it could backfire for a team trying to contend for a title.

Trade grade: D