The offseason is the best time to recognize players whose efforts failed to garner much attention throughout the regular season. For the Los Angeles Rams, this player was linebacker Ernest Jones, who got lost in the mix over the years behind stars like Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Kobie Turner.
Pro Football Focus highlighted Jones as their most underrated player on the Rams' roster. Here's what they had to say:
"Naturally, Aaron Donald received all the attention on the Rams' defense over the past decade. His retirement means Jones should get more recognition, especially if he continues to play like he did in his third season. He finished the 2023 campaign with an 86.2 PFF overall grade, which ranked 13th at the position. He was also one of just three linebackers to earn run-defense and pass-rush grades above 80.0."
Jones has become the leader of the defense, manning the "green dot" for the defense in recent years. His presence is key for the entire Rams' defensive scheme to work, and what he brings sets the tone for LA up front.
Just last year, Jones set the Rams' record for single-season tackles, beating James Laurinaitis's record.
With Donald gone, Jones is the leader of the Rams' young defense. It's nice to see such a key player getting well-deserved recognition.
