On October 23, 2024, the Seahawks acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick—a move that, over time, proved to be one of the best trades of the season.
He soon took over the starting job at center field when Tyrel Dodson was cut. His arrival coincided with a turnaround in the defense’s performance. What can he do with a full offseason compared to Mike Macdonald?
Stats
In just 10 games, Jones formed a solid duo with Tyrice Knight. The tandem elevated the defense to an impressive level: in the last eight games of the season, Seattle ranked 5th in the NFL in points allowed (18.4 per game) and 4th in total yards allowed (304.8).
Despite a late addition to the roster, Jones impressed:
He was 7th among NFL quarterbacks in solo tackles and 6th in run stops in the final 10 games.
On blitzes, he recorded 9 pressures and 1 sack during 57 snaps.
He also recorded an interception and a pass deflection, ranking top 16 in opponent passer rating allowed.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) data:
Overall Grade: 60.7 (108th among 189 LBs)
Run Defense Grade: 73.6 (46th among 189)
Coverage Grade: 48.5 (142nd among 189)
Solo Tackles: 94 (12th)
Assists: 36 (15th)
Sacks: 1 (47th)
Pressures: 13 (21st)
Stops: 48 (16th)
Missed tackles: 11 (85th)
Passer rating allowed: 100.2 (21st)
In the context of run defense in the second half of 2024:
Run stop % of 10.4% (5th among LBs)
Dominance against the run game
The main difference came in run support, a major weakness for the Seahawks in previous seasons:
In the last 10 games with Jones, the defense jumped from 30th to 16th in total defense against the run game. By DVOA, the Seahawks ranked 6th in the NFL against the run from Week 10 onward. Jones stood out with 94 tackles in 10 games, ranking 3rd on the team in this statistic. His missed tackle rate was extremely low: 7.8% (23rd lowest in the NFL among LBs with ≥100 attempts).
1. Reading the Game and Positioning in Gaps (Run Defense)
He’s a LB who knows how to wait for the right moment to attack. Note that he attacks at first, but then backs off, waiting for the best moment, and then finally makes his tackle.
Jones excels at understanding blocks and the flow of the run. He demonstrates excellent gap reading, anticipating the running back’s direction, allowing him to position himself to cut off the opponent’s attack.
This ability to read the offensive line and react quickly is one of the reasons he has one of the best tackle rates in running situations. He consistently lines up in the correct position to stop the RB’s progress down the field, whether through an inside or outside zone run.
He processes the play very quickly and is able to defend the play with speed. He is defending Gap A on the left side of the offense, but with the running back cutting back to Gap B on the right side, Jones changes his route, advances, and makes the tackle.
Despite his good reading, Jones can still improve his ability to react quickly to faster cuts from running backs, especially against runners who have a quick reading of the block. Improving his lateral speed would help him adjust better when the running back makes an explosive cut.
Obviously, the reading and instincts that make Jones a good LB also take their toll. In this play, he tries to anticipate the running path, but the real result is that he paves the way for a bigger run.
2. Tackling technique
Jones stands out for his effectiveness in tackles, doing a good job in one-on-one situations, where he attacks the ball carrier with a wrap tackle. He combines this with a good form tackling technique, where he positions himself directly in front of the player and uses his body to absorb the impact and complete the play without too many errors.
How many times have we seen a play like this end in a touchdown in recent years? Jones takes advantage of the space created by Leonard Williams and advances into the backfield to make the tackle without allowing any additional yards.
In situations where tackles are moving (such as when a RB or TE has already gained some momentum), he could work on using his strength more efficiently to avoid being dragged backward or to allow the opponent to gain more yards after the impact.
3. Work against blocks
The LB doesn’t always need to face the OL. It will always be a matchup that, from a physical standpoint, will have an advantage for the offensive lineman. On this play, Trent Williams climbs to the second level to block him, but the LB escapes the elite LT and makes the tackle.
Again, he doesn’t face the OL. He pushes the OL with his free arm to make the tackle and finish the play.
Coverage
Excellent zone coverage. He covers Dalton Kincaid, but moves to another zone and keeps his eyes on the rest of the field. He pays attention to Devon Witherspoon’s signal and switches his target to the RB, allowing the DB to defend the flat and make the tackle.
He is responsible for defending the hook zone. Jones keeps his head moving, aware of the routes passing through his area. At the end of the snap, he realizes he has no assignment and tries to help Riq Woolen.
Inside the red zone, any space can be enough for a decent QB to find space. Jones is moved by reading Sam Darnold’s eyes and ends up creating space in the middle of the red zone for the TD.
This snap shows Kyler Murray’s surprise, resulting in his interception a few snaps later. Jones drops the ball and catches the crossfield route, scoring perfectly.
Now let’s move to the interception. His assignment here is to defend #3. However, #3’s route moves away from Jones. The LB notices this and returns to the QB’s eyes and makes the interception, defending the dig.
Clearly a snap from someone watching the tape. He already has his eyes on the WR, waiting for the screen. The snap is made, and he rushes to make the tackle.
On this snap, he shows all his coverage potential. He keeps an eye on his first target, passes to the safety, changes his assignment to help Josh Jobe, and finally, he doesn’t take his eyes off Josh Allen, who tries to gain yards with his legs, but Jones fires at him and the QB has to throw the ball away.
He needs to improve his matchup coverage against fast players. This includes improving his footwork, which is essential for tracking the cuts and changes of direction of tight ends and running backs.
Furthermore, he must learn to be more aggressive when anticipating the trajectory of opponents’ routes, as a step ahead in route anticipation.
Contract and looking to the future
Fans were eager for Jones’s renewal, but it took a little longer than expected to be finalized. It was reported that he required minor surgery in the offseason, so this may have been a factor. In March 2025, Jones received a three-year contract (through 2027) totaling $33 million, with $15 million guaranteed. This represents a strong vote of confidence from the team in the defense’s continued evolution.
✅ Conclusion
Ernest Jones IV was a game-changer for the Seahawks’ defense in 2024. With tactical discipline, leadership, and efficient tackling, he improved the team’s performance against the run game. There are still areas for improvement, but now with a new contract and a full offseason to work with Mike Macdonald, the results can be even better.
His arrival transformed the Seahawks’ defense. He was a cornerstone of the reinforcement against the run game, brought tactical leadership, and improved the team’s overall performance. His performance influenced the numbers—and the culture—of the defense. Seattle’s investment makes it clear: he is a key player in their future plans.