Just a day after the Los Angeles Rams preseason finale, the team has granted star defender Ernest Jones IV permission to seek a trade elsewhere. The two sides haven’t been able to come to terms on a new contract so Los Angeles is now open to trading the linebacker.
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN was one of the people to report about the decision on social media.
Sources: #Rams have granted linebacker Ernest Jones IV and his agents permission to seek a trade.
Jones, a 2025 free agent, is L.A.’s defensive play caller with 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks last year. Sides discussed an extension, but with no progress, Rams open to trade. pic.twitter.com/QaMkuDj0Ko
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 25, 2024
Losing Jones IV would be a massive loss for the Rams, especially entering this season. The Rams have already lost All-Pro defensive rackle Aaron Donald to retirement this offseason so Jones IV would be another sting to the defense.
Last season, Jones IV posted 145 total tackles and 4.5 sacks. He showed incredible ability to set the tone for this team on the defensive end but wants a contract that he deems reasonable for his level of production.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
He spoke about the contract situation last month while speaking to The Orange Count Register.
“I know that the work that I’ve put in these past three years, I know I’m worthy of something regardless what the worth may be,” Jones said, according to The Orange County Register. “… I love to be in L.A. I really want to be here. This is truly where I want to keep my family at, grow my family here. But I also know that there’s a business side of it too that I can’t truly control. We’ll see.”
This story will be updated…