Ernest Jones IV did everything a linebacker is supposed to do last season, and then some. He played more than 1,000 snaps, led the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks in tackles, and finished with second-team All-Pro honors. Still, when ESPN rolled out its latest top-10 off-ball linebacker rankings, Jones was nowhere near the list.
The network’s rankings, voted on by league coaches, scouts, and executives, left Jones out of the top ten entirely. He didn’t even land an honorable mention. Instead, he showed up in the “others receiving votes” group, which is a pretty stunning place to put a player who was such a central part of Seattle’s championship defense.
Jones’ numbers tell the story of just how complete he was. He piled up 126 total tackles, easily the most on the Seahawks, but his value went well beyond chasing ball carriers. The 26-year-old was one of the most efficient linebackers in football against both the run and the pass, and that balance is what made him so important to Seattle.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jones was one of only two qualifying NFL linebackers to finish the season with both a missed tackle rate below 8% and an allowed passer rating under 80. That kind of production is rare because most linebackers lean one way or the other.
Jones didn’t. He handled both jobs well enough that head coach Mike Macdonald could leave him on the field for every snap without blinking.
That versatility gave Seattle a lot of flexibility around him. The defense could rotate pieces elsewhere and still keep its structure intact because Jones was such a steady presence in the middle. Without him, the Seahawks’ Super Bowl defense would not have looked the same.
ESPN’s list also raised a few eyebrows beyond Jones’ omission. Quay Walker of the Las Vegas Raiders and Patrick Queen of the Pittsburgh Steelers both got honorable mentions even though they were described as being well below Jones last season.
Jordyn Brooks, who earned first-team All-Pro honors, came in at No. 7.
And that’s what makes Jones’ absence from the top ten stand out even more. Of the four All-Pro linebackers from last season, he was the only one left outside the rankings.
Jack Campbell checked in at No. 5, Brooks at No. 7, and Devin Lloyd at No.
For Jones, the message is simple: another season under Macdonald should give NFL decision-makers no room to overlook him again.
In Other News...
Patrick Mahomes Just Said Something Seahawks Fans Never Expected About Kenneth Walker
Kenneth Walker IIIs move from Seattle to Kansas City already made him one of the more interesting additions on the Chiefs roster, and it got a little more attention this week when Patrick Mahomes spoke highly of the former Seahawks back. Walker signed a three-year deal with Kansas City after leaving Seattle, giving the Chiefs a proven runner with real upside and a rsum that still leaves room for debate.
For Seahawks fans, the intrigue is familiar: Walker has flashed enough talent to make teams believe in him, but his past few seasons also came with missed games and uneven production, which is part of why his next chapter carries so much weight. The Chiefs clearly see a player worth betting on, and now the bigger question is whether Walker can turn that trust into the kind of steady impact that has eluded him at times so far. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks May Have One More Chance To Fix A Familiar Mistake
Seattles offensive line still looks like a spot where the front office could use another clean answer, especially at center and right guard. Jalen Sundell has been in the mix at center, but the Seahawks have been searching for a more stable option there, and Ethan Pocics name naturally fits that discussion because of what he has already shown in the league and the fact that he has been on the market.
Pocics availability matters because Seattle does not have many obvious veteran fixes sitting around, and a familiar face with starting experience would at least give the team a clearer path to sorting out the middle of the line. The question now is whether the Seahawks decide this is the kind of move worth making, or whether the chance to address a long-running issue passes them by again. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Macdonald Sends Seahawks A Strong Message About The NFC West
The NFC West has been getting plenty of offseason buzz, with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams making headline-grabbing additions that have only reinforced the idea that the division could be one of the leagues toughest again. For the Seahawks, though, the conversation inside the building sounds a lot less concerned with who else is loading up and more focused on how Seattle handles its own business as the 2026 season approaches.
Mike Macdonald has made it clear he wants his team centered on itself, not distracted by the arms race around the division. That mindset will get an early test when Seattle opens against the New England Patriots on Sept. 9, a matchup that comes with its own level of intrigue after both teams spent the offseason reshaping their rosters. [Read more 🡒]