As good a tandem as Sean McVay and Les Snead are in Los Angeles, they haven’t exactly gotten the greatest returns when it comes to trading players like Jalen Ramsey, Marcus Peters and now Ernest Jones.
At the time, the decision to trade away Jones just before Week 1 was a curious one. What they got in return was even more shocking. Along with Jones, the Rams traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Titans for a 2026 fifth-rounder – essentially moving up just one round in exchange for one of the team’s best defenders.
We haven’t gotten the full story on the reasoning behind that puzzling deal, but it sure sounds like McVay has some regrets about it. With Jones now in Seattle after the Titans traded him to the Seahawks last week – for more than the Rams got in their trade, mind you – McVay was asked about the trade and how it’s worked out.
“I think I’ve been pleased with some of the things that guys have done. It’d be hard to deny the production that he’s had when you look at what he’s done at Tennessee and even just in his first week (in Seattle) last week,” McVay said. “He’s a great player and he did a lot of good things for us. I think all the decisions that we make in the moment we feel like are in the best interest. I’m not going to pretend and act like every decision is accurate. You try to be able to learn from it and apply it moving forward, but you know that you’re playing against a really well-respected player, mentally and physically tough. Seems like he’s always around the football. I wish him well and it’s going to be a great challenge going against him.”
Jones seemed to be playing well for the Titans before they surprisingly traded him to the Seahawks for Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick, but he’s already had a positive impact on the Seahawks.
In his first game with Seattle just four days after being traded to the Seahawks, he had 15 tackles and played every single snap. He’s always been a dynamic playmaker in the middle of the defense, particularly against the run and as a blitzer, and there’s no question the Rams could use him right about now.
Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom have not played well, and now Reeder is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Omar Speights has a promising future but he’s not close to where Jones currently is as a player.
Don’t be surprised if Jones has a big game against his former team on Sunday, reminding them what they traded away for a bag of peanuts.
