Marcel Louis-Jacques, who began his tenure with ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills before transitioning to the Miami Dolphins in 2021, brings a wealth of experience
to his coverage. Formerly the Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer, Louis-Jacques earned accolades such as the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.
MIAMI — In a strategic move aimed at regaining financial flexibility, the Dolphins have announced the release of linebacker Jerome Baker, adding another significant change to their offseason roster.
Baker, a third-round pick for the team in 2018, has been a fixture on the field, starting in 82 games over his six seasons in the NFL.
His departure comes as he was about to enter the final year of a lucrative three-year contract, signed in 2021, valued at $37.5 million. The release of Baker offers Miami a saving of $9.8 million against the salary cap for the upcoming season.
Complicating matters, Baker recently underwent wrist surgery in January and has been released with a failed physical designation.
In addition to Baker, the Dolphins have also decided to part ways with cornerback Keion Crossen, who sat out the entirety of the 2023 season due to an injury described as a freak accident.
These moves follow a series of strategic decisions by Miami’s management, including the release of veteran Emmanuel Ogbah and the designation of cornerback Xavien Howard as a post-June 1 release. These maneuvers are expected to yield approximately $32.5 million in savings for the team in 2014.
According to sources close to the situation, attempts were made to restructure Baker’s contract, but an agreement couldn’t be reached. However, there remains a possibility of Baker returning to the team after exploring opportunities in the free agent market.
General manager Chris Grier echoed a similar sentiment regarding Howard’s release, emphasizing the business aspect of the decision while keeping the door open for a potential return.
“We had a long discussion, and he understood it was a business decision,” Grier stated. “At the end of the day, we just felt it was right for him to have this opportunity for his agent to go see what’s out there for him. But we didn’t close the door on it.
“We’re going to stay in communication as the process goes and see what happens, and we left the door open for him possibly coming back here too.”
With the league year set to commence on March 13 and free agency on the horizon, Miami has opted not to apply the franchise tag to any of its prominent pending free agents, including defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Connor Williams.
However, negotiations remain ongoing, offering hope for potential agreements before the new season kicks off.
