October 9, 2024

Westside People

Complete News World

Seattle Seahawks sign linebacker Jerome Baker to a one-year deal

Seattle Seahawks sign linebacker Jerome Baker to a one-year deal

The Seattle Seahawks announced they have signed former Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker on Saturday.

Verteran received a one-year, $7 million contract, Baker's agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, told ESPN's Adam Schefter, an agreement that comes a day after Baker met with Seattle following another free agent visit with the Tennessee Titans.

The addition of Baker means the Seahawks have filled their two starting spots at inside linebacker following the departures of Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks. They signed former Buffalo Bills veteran Terrell Dodson to a one-year deal earlier this week. Brooks agreed to a deal with the Dolphins while Wagner signed with the Washington Chiefs.

The Dolphins released Baker on March 5. Since Miami released Baker, he won't be counted against the Seahawks' formula for compensatory picks.

Baker, 27, who underwent wrist surgery last January and was released due to a failed physical, was the team's third-round pick in 2018 and started 82 games in his six NFL seasons. The starting linebacker was entering the final year of a three-year, $37.5 million contract he signed in 2021.

Last season he played in 13 games (12 starts) and tallied 78 tackles, 2 interceptions and 1.5 sacks. He was placed on injured reserve in December after injuring his MCL during a win over the Leaders on December 3. He returned for the regular season finale against the Buffalo Bills but suffered a wrist injury in that game that required surgery and kept him out of action. From Miami's round-robin loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

See also  How Kevin Hayes' friendship with Tore Krogh came to light during the Blues-Flyers' business talks

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

Brooks, 26, who received a three-year, $30 million contract with Dolphins agent Erik Burkhardt, told Schefter on Monday that he made a remarkable return in last season's opener after tearing his ACL in Week 17 of the 2022 season. He played in 16 games with Seattle, missing one game in December with an ankle injury that slowed him down the final six weeks of the season.

He improved as a playmaker, though he finished with 50 fewer tackles than he did in 2022 — going from 161 to 111. He recorded 4.5 sacks after totaling just two over his first three seasons and returned his first career interception for a touchdown.

ESPN staff writers Marcel Louis-Jacques and Brady Henderson contributed to this report.