Baker, 4th to Titans for LB Ernest Jones IV

[MontanaHawk05]

I was thinking that too...but technically not a FA.

Neither is Jones.

 

[Aircrew]

If it improves our run defense I’m all for it. I’m a bit wary of the win now trading though. I don’t think we are ready yet but hopefully he does a good job and ends up sticking around long enough to see success here.

This is precisely where I'm at.

 

[Aircrew]

Watch his highlights, dude is a baller and wraps up his tackles.

What's that?

 

[Gametime]

This is precisely where I'm at.

There was a note on the ESPN article that they want to keep him long term. So if this is true and the intention is to sign him as a key piece in rebuilding things moving forward then it could be a great get. Worst case we lose him and get the comp pic and really haven't given up as much as Baker was not going to be resigned either. I think we traded them a 2025 6th and got a 5th in the deal as well so I think the risk is worth it with a potentially high ceiling for a young run stopper.

 

[Mistashoesta]

Baker looked uninspired to me when he was on the field. Just my opinion.

 

[HawkRiderFan]

I had read stuff questioning what the Rams were doing when they told him to shop himself for trade offers a the end of pre-season. IIRC he caused our O grief as a Ram.

 

[rcaido]

Seem like an overpay/desperate move for a 1 year rental. I would have waited after the Bills games

 

[Wsumatt1982]

There was a note on the ESPN article that they want to keep him long term. So if this is true and the intention is to sign him as a key piece in rebuilding things moving forward then it could be a great get. Worst case we lose him and get the comp pic and really haven't given up as much as Baker was not going to be resigned either. I think we traded them a 2025 6th and got a 5th in the deal as well so I think the risk is worth it with a potentially high ceiling for a young run stopper.

Thats where I saw they want him long term. Thanks

 

[bileever]

Good player, but gave up way too much for a 10-game rental. Rams traded Jones and a 6th rounder to the Titans for a 5th round pick. Now we trade Baker plus a 4th round pick for him.

 

[Gametime]

Seem like an overpay/desperate move for a 1 year rental. I would have waited after the Bills games

Considering Jones JUST played the Bills I think this is solid! He literally just played them. Great get right before a big game when a player has just come off a week of prep in a similar style defense against the same opponent. Jones had 5 solo tackles, a pass defense, and a QB hit.

 

[Ycrew]

Nate burleson Sidney rice grant winstrom Joe jurevicous Michael Bennett Leon Washington I’m still thinking… some might mention Geno

Rice was mid I can understand Bennett but that was like 10 years ago

 

[bigskydoc]

I'm a bit behind the times, and didn't realize the Rams actually traded him. Bone headed move, although salary cap implications may have meant he wasn't retainable. I thought they were just shopping him to match his market with an offer.

He was the defacto captain of the Rams defense, and a hell of a player. I assume the plan here is to sign him long-term, and find it incredibly odd that he agreed to go to the Titans without a long-term deal in place.

If we get that, then the 4th is well worth it.

 

[rcaido]

Avril & Bennet were the best FA. Then Mcdougald. Cant believe we gave up Mcdougald & 2 first round picks & a 3rd for Adams.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Avril & Bennet were the best FA. Then Mcdougald. Cant believe we gave up Mcdougald & 2 first round picks & a 3rd for Adams.

I've been rueing that move as well. McDougald was underrated.

 

[HawkRiderFan]

For anyone who used to listen to Around the NFL or now follow Head the Call, their producer Justin Graver is a Titans fans who also has a Titans podcast. When I asked him on twitter here's what he had to say

https://x.com/titansfilmroom/status/1849144570275393664

 

[KinesProf]

When was the last time we signed any good FA's? I can only think of DJ Reed which wasn't that recent...or Geno

Recent ones that come to mind are Love and Nwosu. Laviska seems to offer a nice threat in the return game with some sound tackling on kick coverage. TBD with Jobe. Guys like Hankins, Jarran Reed and Al Woods (previously) have done some pretty good work in the trenches relative to cost.

 

[nanomoz]

Love it.

 

[Torc]

The Baker piece of this trade is irrelevant - he wasn't going to get playing time and might just have been released. Trading him opens the roster spot. Really, this was simply a 4th round pick for Jones.

 

[AgentDib]

Trading away draft capital for players on expiring contracts who want to get paid is never good long-term roster building. Having an extra 4th doesn't make it less valuable, and I don't like that our FO tends to treat extra picks like spare cash burning a hole in their pockets. If you don't care about this season because you think we can't win the Super Bowl, and that's all that matters, then you should dislike this move.

That being said, long-term roster building isn't everything. Time value of money applies to everything, including wins. We are currently first in the NFC west and our LB play and run defense have been a real weak spot. I've been a bit worried about that three game stretch where we face the Cards running game twice, but this move makes me feel a lot better about it. If this move shores up our run defense then the future draft capital will have been worth it.

 

[MagnificentSeven]

Good player, but gave up way too much for a 10-game rental. Rams traded Jones and a 6th rounder to the Titans for a 5th round pick. Now we trade Baker plus a 4th round pick for him.

In fairness though you aren't taking into account the financial aspects of the deal. Baker is on a one year, $7-million deal while Ernest Jones is still on his rookie contract. Jones might've garnered a 5th or 6th if it was just him, but to take Jerome Baker and his contract off our hands, the deal was going to have to be sweeter. So, we give up a 4th as opposed to a 5th, if he becomes a long term answer at LB, and we have more cap flexibility this year to do another splash trade, is it really that bad of a deal?