The Miami Dolphins have witnessed their defense become the hardest-hit unit during the 2024 free agency cycle.
Five different players who started in 2023 are already no longer going to set foot inside the Dolphins’ locker room next season. Now, linebacker Jerome Baker became the sixth on Saturday.
Contract Details Emerge for New Seahawks Linebacker Jerome Baker
Baker is agreeing to a one-year deal that will pay him up to $7 million with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter first reported the move.
Baker’s deal was made complete by his agents Drew Rosenhaus and brother Jason.
Seahawks are signing former Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker to a one-year, $7 million contract. The deal was confirmed by Baker’s agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/q0GiAgYfE9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2024
Baker will soon join a Seahawks team now led by head coach Mike Macdonald, who was last seen turning the Baltimore Ravens’ defense into a top-five unit. Macdonald’s final Baltimore defense ranked sixth against yards and allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns.
The decision to lure in Baker also comes off the heels of Seattle losing longtime tackle leader Bobby Wagner. The Super Bowl-winning linebacker from the Seahawks’ 2013 team is rejoining former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn with the Washington Commanders.
Baker Once Earned Wealthy Deal From Miami
Baker has basically been given a “prove it” type deal with the Seahawks. But there was a time when he was making more than $7 million a year.
Back in 2021, the 6’2″ linebacker signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with Miami. That included a $12.5 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of that same amount.
Baker earned that mega-deal following back-to-back 100-tackle campaigns. He tallied 126 total stops in 2019, then followed that up by hitting 112 stops with a past career-best seven for a loss.
Following his huge deal, Baker went on to post one more 100-tackle season (2022) while adding a combined 10.5 sacks across three seasons. He even broke his previous best TFL mark of ’20 by snatching seven stops behind the line in ’22.
However, he endured a rather down 2023 season. He ended last year needing wrist surgery and got limited to 12 starts. With the diluted number of starting action, Baker only managed a career-low 78 tackles. His 51 solo stops and two TFLs also became career worsts.
Who, Along With Baker, Have Left the Dolphins Defense?
Again, Miami’s defense has been decimated with free agent moves.
Nearly half of the Dolphins’ 2023 unit — which ranked 10th against yards — are gone. Here’s who has left, including the newest Seahawk:
- Xavien Howard, CB: Howard became a post-June 1 designation as Miami released him on March 13. The perennial Pro Bowl cornerback remains a free agent.
- Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE: Ogbah was another roster cut before free agency kicked off on March 11 with the legal tampering period. Ogbah remains unsigned. He managed to start in one game while seeing action in 15 contests.
- Christian Wilkins, DT: Considered the best free agent interior defensive lineman by PFN for 2024 free agency, Wilkins signed a blockbuster four-year, $110 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders with $84.8 million guaranteed.
- Raekwon Davis, DT: The powerful 6’7″, 325-pound veteran started in seven games for the Miami defense. Davis signed with the Indianapolis Colts Friday on a two-year, $14 million contract.
- Andrew Van Ginkel, LB: An 11-game starter who snatched six sacks, Van Ginkel was originally thought to be in the mix to return following Ogbah’s departure. Instead, Van Ginkel signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Baker officially became the sixth Dolphins starter to find a new NFL home. Miami, though, moved swiftly to replace Baker.
In a corresponding move, Miami signed former Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks, per ESPN insider Field Yates Saturday.
The Dolphins released Jerome Baker and moved quickly to replace him in free agency by signing former Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks.
The Seahawks now replace Brooks by signing Baker. https://t.co/OCryguri68
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 16, 2024
Brooks brings three consecutive 100-tackle seasons in tow to South Beach. He produced 111 stops in ’23 which included snatching 62 solo tackles and producing eight stops behind the line of scrimmage.
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Before his final season in Seattle, Brooks delivered an astonishing 184 tackles in 2021 that included a league-high 109 solo stops. He went on to produce 161 tackles (103 solo) the subsequent year.
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