The Seattle Seahawks have bolstered their linebacker corps by signing former Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker, the team revealed on Saturday.
Baker, a seasoned player in the league, secured a lucrative one-year contract worth $7 million, as confirmed by his agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This agreement follows Baker’s recent meeting with the Seahawks, which took place after his visit with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.
With Baker’s acquisition, the Seahawks have successfully addressed both starting positions at inside linebacker, filling the void left by the departures of Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks. Earlier this week, they also inked a one-year deal with former Buffalo Bills veteran Tyrel Dodson. Brooks has since agreed to terms with the Dolphins, while Wagner has signed with the Washington Commanders.
Baker became available after the Dolphins released him on March 5. Notably, since his departure from Miami was due to a release rather than a trade, his signing won’t impact the Seahawks’ compensatory pick formula.
At 27 years old, Baker, who underwent wrist surgery in January and was released due to a failed physical, brings considerable experience to the Seahawks. Drafted by Miami in the third round in 2018, he has started in 82 games over his six seasons in the NFL. He was entering the final year of his three-year, $37.5 million contract with Miami, signed in 2021.
In the previous season, Baker participated in 13 games, starting 12, and contributed significantly with 78 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1.5 sacks. However, his campaign was cut short when he sustained an MCL injury during a game against the Commanders in December, landing him on injured reserve.
Although he returned for the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills, he suffered a wrist injury requiring surgery, which sidelined him for Miami’s wild-card round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Throughout his career, Baker has showcased his versatility, amassing three seasons of over 100 tackles and accumulating 587 tackles, 22.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 6 forced fumbles in 94 career games.
Meanwhile, Brooks, 26, who recently secured a lucrative three-year, $30 million contract with the Dolphins, as per his agent Erik Burkhardt’s announcement to Schefter, made an impressive return for last season’s opener after tearing his ACL in Week 17 of the 2022 season.
Despite battling an ankle injury that slowed him down over the final six weeks of the season, he displayed growth as a playmaker, recording 111 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and returning his first career interception for a touchdown.
