According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones IV is on the transfer list and is reportedly on a new contract. Jones, a former third-round pick and captain of the Rams, has started 33 games in his three years in the league — including 15 last year. Apparently, the green dot linebacker and the Rams cannot agree on a contract extension that would take Jones out of his rookie contract, so he is being offered.
Linebacker is arguably the shakiest starting position for the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 regular season, if you don’t count specialists. The Packers tried to improve the position by adding two rookie draft picks, Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper, on the second day of the draft in April.
Unfortunately, those decisions haven’t really paid off so far. Cooper had a hip injury that limited his time on the first-team defense to rotational play as a nickel linebacker alongside Quay Walker. Hopper hasn’t been able to make much impact in the lineup that currently features Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson as the best 4-3 outside linebacker options.
Last year, McDuffie was a rotational linebacker, splitting time with De’Vondre Campbell as a 3-4 inside linebacker. Wilson was a reserve defensive lineman and played 308 special teams snaps but only 121 defensive snaps. In his two years in Green Bay, Wilson has played 505 special teams snaps and 156 defensive snaps.
Essentially, the Packers’ outside linebackers in 2024 are expected to be their inside linebacker backups from 2023. Perhaps Jones’ availability will give the Green Bay Packers a chance to improve before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. The Packers won’t practice before the cutdowns, but they will have five practices before their regular season opener. That should be enough time to acclimate Jones enough to put together some packages against the Eagles.
Trading for Jones doesn’t mean giving up the future of either rookie linebacker, either. Obviously, neither is ready to start in Week 1. That’s OK. Very few rookies are ready to make a positive contribution this early. McDuffie and Wilson are both in contract seasons, which would allow the team to transition to a more Cooper and Hopper-focused unit in 2025. No one is saying Cooper can’t earn a starting linebacker spot alongside Walker and Jones next season.
According to Over the Cap, the Packers currently have $22.9 million in salary cap space, which will ultimately cover the final two players on the 53-man roster, their injured reserve and their practice squad. It might be a fine line to walk, but Green Bay could afford a retroactive contract extension for Jones.
