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Way back in March of 2024 as the Seattle Seahawks were barely over a month into the Mike Macdonald era, they lost one of their promising young defenders to free agency. Jordyn Brooks signed a 3-year, $26.25M deal with the Miami Dolphins that included about $16M guaranteed. Without Brooks, John Schneider and Macdonald pivoted to Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson. Shortly into the season, Macdonald/Schneider had enough of that noise and acquired former NFC West rival Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans for a relative pittance.
At the time, there were some cockamamy statements floating around that dared to compare the trade to when Macdonald got Roquan Smith while with the Baltimore Ravens, helping that defense to blossom.
What an idiot, right??
While it took a little time, Jones did in fact help the Seahawks defense turn the corner. Everyone wanted the impending free agent back in the 2025 offseason, but a deal wasn’t reached before free agency. Miraculously Thankfully, Jones returned to the Seahawks after testing the market on a 3-year, $28.5M contract with $15M guaranteed. So, the Seahawks essentially got Jones for the Brooks deal one year later. It seemed like a great contract for Seattle at the time, but it looks even better considering the extension Jordyn Brooks signed with Miami.
(H/T EasleyDoesIt for putting this on The Feed)
Ernest, with your five interceptions, Second Team All-Pro nod, and season saving F-Bomb, please avert your eyes. I get it that Brooks made First-Team All-Pro and led the NFL in tackles in 2025, but 3 years, $51.3M with $35M guaranteed?
Timing is everything, and the Seahawks benefited from getting Jones locked up last offseason. It’s true that Brooks has Jones beaten in the stats column for pretty much everything except INTs, but is he roughly twice as valuable as Jones? Considering the fact that Ernest is a two-time Super Bowl Champion and not to mention just over two years younger than Brooks…highly doubtful.
Having had the privilege of watching Jones work in Seahawks colors the last few seasons, and the leadership that he brings both on and off the field, maybe he values being loved after getting traded away by both the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans. The Super Bowl title and being one of the leaders of the Dark Side likely has a part in his happiness too. Either way, the Seahawks were fortunate to keep Jones around last offseason, and that seems all more apparent now after the Brooks extension.
And if you have anything to say about our linebacker, quite frankly…well, you know the drill!
