Polarizing Titans trade looks even worse after nightmare Week 13 showing

The Tennessee Titans made a decision to trade linebacker Ernest Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks in late October. Fellow linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft were sent to Tennessee in the deal. Sunday's embarrassing defeat to the Washington Commanders further placed that trade under question after Baker played terribly.

Baker settled into a rotational role when he first arrived in Nashville. Off-ball linebacker Jack Gibbens was afforded the first opportunity to replace Jones in the starting lineup, and the former undrafted free agent was maximizing that chance. Gibbens was earning routine praise from the coaching staff, and had recorded 37 tackles in three starts, including impressive showings versus the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers.

Gibbens unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury in the Week 11 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. Baker started the Week 12 victory over the Houston Texans as a result, but his performance was far more modest compared to what Gibbens had been producing. Baker was credited with making three tackles despite playing every single defensive snap. And then his nightmare in Week 13 arrived.

The Commanders ran the football with an astounding amount of success on the Titans. Their third offensive play from scrimmage was a 40-yard touchdown run by Brian Robinson Jr. They out-gained the Titans 267-35 on the ground. Robinson Jr. surpassed 100 rushing yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Backup running backs Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols averaged 7.2 and 5.3 yards respectively. Rodriguez scampered for 94 yards and a TD, and quarterback Jayden Daniels made it three rushing scores for Washington on the afternoon.

Baker was routinely out of position. He took poor angles in the run game and lacked gap discipline. Head coach Brian Callahan admitted as much during Monday's presser. Baker had similar issues in Seattle. Unsurprisingly, their run defense has improved drastically since replacing him with Jones.

Pro Football Focus credited Baker with a 43.1 grade in run defense and a lackluster overall score of 39.8. The former Ohio State defender missed a tackle and allowed two receptions on three targets in coverage. Baker was also whistled for two ill-advised penalties.

The Titans didn't trade Jones because they valued Baker. They made the deal in exchange for additional 2025 draft capital because they're a rebuilding roster and Jones was on an expiring contract. Given how poor Baker has played though, and that rookie linebackers Cedric Gray and James Williams haven't surpassed him on the depth chart, you wonder if GM Ran Carthon regrets that decision.