5 things to know about LB Ernest Jones, the Rams' 3rd-round pick

5 things to know about LB Ernest Jones, the Rams' 3rd-round pick


Cameron DaSilva
April 30, 2021 10:45 pm

With a hole at inside linebacker, the Los Angeles Rams addressed one of their biggest roster needs in the third round of the draft. They selected Ernest Jones out of South Carolina at No. 103 overall, giving Raheem Morris a run-stuffing linebacker to work with in the middle of the defense.

Here are five things to know about the Rams’ third-round pick, who led the Gamecocks in tackles twice in three seasons.

1 He drew a comparison to Micah Kiser

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com shared his pro comparison for Jones and it’s a familiar face to Rams fans: Micah Kiser. They’re both strong tacklers who have limitations in coverage, but when they hit a ball carrier, the player knows it.

Here is Zierlein’s scouting report for Jones, which sounds a lot like Kiser’s game.

Two-down linebackers with limited speed and below-average athleticism aren’t exactly in vogue these days, but Jones has the field IQ and interior toughness to warrant consideration. He’s a blue-collar linebacker capable of handling the physical duties required of his position, but he will always have limitations in pursuit speed and coverage talent. He has a good feel for diagnosing blocking schemes and finding runners between the tackles, so a role as a backup inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense might be his best fit early on in his career.


2 Earned 28th-best tackling grade among all LBs last season

Full Article [theramswire.usatoday.com]