Seattle Seahawks sign linebacker Jerome Baker for 1 year

Jerome Baker, a former linebacker with the Miami Dolphins, was signed by the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, the organization announced.

Baker’s managers, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that their client, the veteran, had signed a one-year, $7 million contract. This news follows Baker’s visit to the Tennessee Titans as a free agency, the day before he met with Seattle.

With Baker’s arrival, the Seahawks have now filled both starting positions at inside linebacker following the losses of Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks. Earlier this week, they inked Tyrel Dodson, a veteran of the Buffalo Bills, to a one-year contract. Wagner signed with the Washington Commanders, while Brooks consented to a contract with the Dolphins.

Baker was cut by the Dolphins on March 5. Baker will not be considered against the Seahawks’ formula because he was released by Miami. for picks that are compensatory.

The team selected Baker, 27, in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He had surgery on his wrist in January and was released due to a failed physical designation. In his six NFL seasons, Baker has started 82 games. The starting inside linebacker, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract in 2021, was about to enter his final season.

He played in 13 games (12 starts) the previous season, recording 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 78 tackles. After suffering an MCL injury on December 3 during a victory over the Commanders, he was placed on injured reserve. He was sidelined for Miami’s wild-card round defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs due to a wrist injury he sustained in the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills, which necessitated surgery.

He has 587 tackles in 94 career games and three seasons with at least 100 tackles. In his career, he has also recorded 6 forced fumbles, 5 interceptions, and 22.5 sacks.

The 26-year-old Brooks informed Schefter on Monday that he had signed a $30 million three-year contract with Dolphins agent Erik Burkhardt.

astonishingly returned for the first game of the previous season after rupturing his ACL in Week 17 of 2022. With an ankle ailment that sidelined him for the last six weeks of the season, he missed one of his 16 games for Seattle.

Although he finished with 50 less tackles than he had in 2022 (161 to 111), he still showed growth as a playmaker. After logging just two sacks in his first three seasons, he had 4.5 and scored a touchdown on his first career interception return.