Seattle acquired Ernest Jones IV for Jerome Baker and a 2025…
Seattle acquired Ernest Jones IV for Jerome Baker and a 2025 fourth-round pick, then watched Jones become a defensive centerpiece. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025, helped Seattle win Super Bowl LX and remained with the club on a new contract. Tennessee still produced useful value through Gunnar Helm, but Jones' impact makes this a clear Seahawks victory.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Ernest Jones
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Jerome Baker
- pick 2025 4th round pick (120th overall, Gunnar Helm)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Seattle acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV from Tennessee on October 23, 2024, sending linebacker Jerome Baker and a 2025 fourth-round pick. Tennessee used that selection, No. 120, on tight end Gunnar Helm. The trade initially looked like a veteran-for-veteran adjustment with draft compensation balancing the exchange, but the subsequent results created much more separation than the original C/C grades reflected.
Why Seattle Won Big
Jones quickly became the centerpiece of Seattle's linebacker group and then stayed beyond the rental window. The Seahawks re-signed him in March 2025, and his next season elevated the deal from useful to exceptional. Jones recorded 126 tackles and five interceptions in 2025, earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro recognition and played a major role for the Super Bowl LX champions. Seattle acquired that level of production without surrendering a premium pick. His ability to stay on the field and handle an every-down role magnified the value further.
How Tennessee Still Found Value
The Titans did not come away empty. Helm caught 44 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie while starting 10 games, giving Tennessee an inexpensive young tight end from the fourth-round selection. Baker also supplied the veteran component of the original return. Those pieces justify a solid grade and keep the trade from becoming a one-sided failure.
Final Verdict
Seattle receives an A and the win, while Tennessee earns a B-. Helm's early production is encouraging, but an All-Pro linebacker on a championship team is the strongest realized asset in the exchange. Jones' performance and retention make Seattle the clear winner.