Jones’ standing as an extension candidate this offseason has been considerably unclear. Again in March, we heard that Jones was on the membership’s extension radar, however GM Les Snead mentioned just some days later that he wouldn’t authorize a brand new deal for the proficient defender in 2024.
Earlier this month, nonetheless, Fowler himself reported that Jones is certainly a candidate for a second contract from the Rams, Los Angeles’ basic unwillingness to pay massive cash to an off-ball LB however. Fowler’s report from right now notes that participant and workforce have mentioned an extension however have made no progress on that entrance. Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic provides that the Rams broke off negotiations within the spring (subscription required).
No matter when contract talks came about and after they broke down, the upshot is that Snead & Co. are seemingly ready to stick to their commonplace working process on the subject of off-ball ‘backers and let Jones search his second NFL deal elsewhere. And, given Jones’ efficiency thus far, there may very well be numerous golf equipment excited by his companies.
In 2023, Jones recorded 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks throughout 15 video games (all begins) whereas having fun with a 93% snap share. That manufacturing just isn’t a mere byproduct of heavy quantity, because the South Carolina alum graded out because the Thirteenth-best linebacker within the league out of 82 qualifiers, per Professional Soccer Focus’ metrics. Of his 145 tackles, 14 of them had been behind the road of scrimmage.
Jones, 24, can be Los Angeles’ defensive play-caller, so the membership would wish to get another person to fill that function if a commerce is consummated. In line with Rodrigue, the Rams’ willingness to maneuver Jones could also be a minimum of partially knowledgeable by the emergence of UDFA rookie Omar Speights, whom Snead mentioned will make the workforce. If Snead has determined {that a} Jones extension is simply too costly for the Rams, he might imagine that recovering some draft capital for him now whereas getting an prolonged have a look at Speights is extra worthwhile than retaining Jones for yet another season.
Nevertheless, given Jones’ expertise and apparent significance to the Rams’ protection, it could seemingly take a fairly robust commerce provide to pry him away from a membership that certified for the playoffs final yr and is eyeing one other postseason run in 2024. Maybe this can be a case of a GM permitting different groups to determine a participant’s market earlier than extending a suggestion of his personal, however in any occasion, Rodrigue says the scenario is fluid. In different phrases, neither a commerce nor an extension is imminent.
