South Carolina football alum signs big money NFL contract
South Carolina football alum Ernest Jones has found his NFL home. According to a report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapaport, Jones has signed a three-year $33 Million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Following a mid-season trade from the Tennessee Titans to the Seahawks, Jones isn’t going anywhere this offseason. Per Rapaport, about $15 Million of the new contract will be guaranteed money. The contract moves Jones inside the NFL’s top-10 highest-paid linebackers, both in total and annual contract value.
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The Seahawks’ desire to retain Jones makes sense. After the trade, he logged nearly 100 tackles in 10 games. Despite missing a week as the trade processed, he finished the 2024 season 13th in the NFL in total tackles. Had he not missed a week, he likely would have jumped into the league’s top 10.
Jones helped the Seahawks win six of their final eight games last season, causing Seattle to move from postseason afterthought to legitimate playoff contender. In the end, though, Jones’ squad lost the NFC West to the Los Angeles Rams via tiebreaker.
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As has been the case for the past several years, Ernest Jones was one of the Pro Bowl’s biggest snubs last season. His 138-tackle showing came on the heels of a 145-tackle season in 2023, one in which he broke the Rams’ all-time franchise record for a single season despite missing two games.
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During his South Carolina football career, Jones was an All-SEC contributor and team captain. Despite being a 3-star prospect, he worked his way to becoming a 3rd-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is one of the best linebackers in program history, and had he played more than just two full-time seasons, Jones certainly would be all over the Gamecocks’ record books.
