Seattle, Washington – The Seattle Seahawks have made a significant move in the NFL free agency market by signing former Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker to a one-year, $7 million contract. This signing comes as the Seahawks work to fill the inside linebacker positions left vacant by the departures of Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks.
Baker, 27, was released by the Dolphins on March 5, making him an attractive addition for the Seahawks without impacting their compensatory pick formula. Despite undergoing wrist surgery in January and being released with a failed physical designation, Baker brings valuable experience as a third-round pick in 2018 with 82 starts in his six NFL seasons.
Last season, Baker appeared in 13 games, recording 78 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1.5 sacks before being placed on injured reserve in December due to an MCL injury. His return for the regular-season finale was short-lived as a wrist injury required surgery, keeping him out of Miami’s wild-card round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In addition to Baker’s signing, the Seahawks also secured Tyrel Dodson from the Buffalo Bills on a one-year deal, solidifying their inside linebacker positions. Meanwhile, former Seattle linebacker Jordyn Brooks secured a lucrative three-year contract worth $30 million with the Dolphins agent Erik Burkhardt.
Brooks, 26, showed resilience coming back from an ACL tear in Week 17 of the 2022 season to play in 16 games for Seattle last season. Despite a decrease in tackles compared to the previous season, Brooks showcased growth as a playmaker with 4.5 sacks and his first career interception returned for a touchdown.
With these significant signings and changes in their linebacker corps, the Seattle Seahawks are positioning themselves for success in the upcoming NFL season. The additions of Baker and Dodson, along with Brooks’ departure to Miami, reflect the team’s commitment to strengthening its defense for the challenges ahead.