After playing over 1,000 snaps, leading the Super Bowl winner in tackles, and earning second-team All-Pro honors, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV still isn't getting the recognition he deserves.
In the latest iteration of their position rankings, ESPN recently released its list of the top ten off-ball linebackers in the NFL, as voted on by league coaches, scouts, and executives. Not only did Jones miss out on a spot in the top ten, but he didn't even receive an honorable mention. He was named in the "others receiving votes" section.
As a focal point in the NFL's most dominant defense, it's baffling that the rest of the league hasn't learned what the Seahawks already know about Jones.
Seattle Seahawks' Ernest Jones IV snubbed on ESPN's top LB rankings
Jones was a driving force in the Seahawks' championship defense. His 126 total tackles led the team by a wide margin, but his impact went even deeper. The 26-year-old was one of the most well-rounded linebackers in football last year, shutting down both the run and the pass with jaw-dropping efficiency.
According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he was one of only two qualifying NFL linebackers to finish the year with both a missed tackle rate below 8% and an allowed passer rating of lower than 80.
Most linebackers specialize in either run defense or pass defense. Jones can be effective in both, allowing head coach Mike Macdonald to keep him on the field for every play without hesitation. He's one of the few linebackers in the NFL without a clear weakness.
That versatility allows the defense to be rotated around him, providing consistency while keeping the unit as a whole fresh. Without Jones, Seattle's Super Bowl defense simply wouldn't have been the same.
There are plenty of eyebrow-raising decisions on ESPN's list. Quay Walker of the Las Vegas Raiders and Patrick Queen of the Pittsburgh Steelers both received honorable mentions despite being levels below Jones last season. Jordyn Brooks earned first-team All-Pro honors, but he's still down at No. 7 on the list.
Of the four All-Pro linebackers from last season, Jones is the only one to be left outside the top ten. Jack Campbell ranks fifth, Brooks is seventh, and Devin Lloyd rounds out the group at No. 10. Meanwhile, Jones couldn't even get an honorable mention.
With another year under Macdonald, Jones should leave no doubt in the minds of NFL decision-makers that he's one of the best linebackers in the league.
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