Dolphins releasing Jerome Baker, parting ways with linebacker after 6 seasons
The Dolphins are releasing inside linebacker Jerome Baker in a cost-cutting move that will save the team millions in cap space but will create another hole to fill this offseason.
Baker was set to enter the final year of a three-year extension he signed in 2021. He had no guaranteed money remaining on his deal. According to a source, Baker agreed to take a pay cut from his $10.8 million base salary in 2024 but the sides could not agree on an exact number. A return to Miami has not been ruled out.
At the NFL Scouting Combine last week, general manager Chris Grier did not commit to Baker being on the roster in 2024.
“We’d love to have Baker here,” Grier said. “I think the big thing for us was to have the new defensive staff come in, spend time watching the team, watching the defense as a staff together. Once we have those discussions with the defensive staff, [head coach] Mike [McDaniel] will get together and then we’ll make that decision here in the next couple of weeks.”
Baker’s release will free about $9.8 million in cap space for the Dolphins, who are now projected to be about $19 million over the cap after also releasing cornerback Keion Crossen. Releasing Baker will carry a dead cap charge of about $4.9 million.
In 2023, Baker missed extended time because of injury for the first time in his career. An MCL sprain sidelined him for four games late in the season. And then a dislocated bone in his wrist kept him out of the wild-card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Baker appeared in 13 games, recording 78 tackles and 1.5 sacks this past season.
The Dolphins selected Baker with the No. 73 overall pick in the 2018 Draft. Over six seasons, Baker appeared in 94 games (82 starts), recording 581 tackles (378 solo), 22.5 sacks, five interceptions, 21 pass breakups and six forced fumbles
David Long Jr. is set to return on the final year of a two-year deal he signed last offseason. Duke Riley, who filled in for Baker last season, is also under contract for the 2024 season. And 2022 third-round pick Channing Tindall could be primed for a bigger role. He’s played sparingly on defense in his first two seasons, logging just 21 snaps.
This story was originally published March 5, 2024 at 4:15 PM.
