Tag: Jerome baker

What the Titans get with new linebacker Jerome Baker

The Tennessee Titans swapped linebackers sending Ernest Jones to the Seattle Seahawks for Jerome Baker. Here is what the gain with the move.

The Tennessee Titans acquired LB Jerome Baker from the Seattle Seahawks in the Ernest Jones trade. So, what are the Titans getting with the addition of this veteran linebacker? Let’s take a look.

Like Jones, Baker will be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2024 season and will be departing the Seahawks after a very short stint in Seattle. The Seahawks signed the veteran linebacker in March to a one-year $7 million contract. Clearly, things didn’t work out. 

He was signed after playing six seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Baker underwent surgery on his wrist in January and was eventually released by the Dolphins with a failed physical designation. The 27-year-old linebacker was a third-round pick by the Dolphins in 2018 and has started 82 games in his six NFL seasons. Before his release, he was entering the final year of a three-year, $37.5 million contract he signed in 2021. 

The veteran linebacker has battled a hamstring injury while with the Seahawks, which has limited his production. On the season, Baker has recorded 37 tackles (21 solo), one sack, and one forced fumble. He finished his time with the Seahawks with a 62.7 PFF grade. 

One can argue that Jones is superior to Baker at this point, but it is clear that he was not in the team’s long-term plans at the linebacker position. Baker is a solid veteran who can help mentor Cedric Gray, who the Titans likely view as the solution inside next to Kenneth Murray. 

If Baker can pick up the defense quickly, he should be available to make his debut with the Titans on Sunday when they face the Detroit Lions. However, he will likely be inactive, with preparations in full swing.  

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Grading the Titans trade of LB Ernest Jones to the Seahawks

Here is the preliminary grade for the Tennessee Titans trade of LB Ernest Jones to the Seattle Seahawks.

Ran Carthon and the Tennessee Titans front office were busy on Wednesday. Not only did they deal WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs, they made a second trade, sending LB Ernest Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks. 

Unlike the Hopkins deal, which took some time for the full details to come out, this deal moved quickly, making it easier to make a snap judgment and grade the transaction. 

In the deal, the Titans sent Jones to the Seahawks in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft and LB Jerome Baker. 

Titans grade: A

Baker is nowhere near the player of Jones caliber, but he is a veteran and could add some experience to the unit. With rookie Cedric Gray likely being activated from injured reserve and taking a spot on the 53-man roster, this move opens a path for him to get onto the field. 

Where the Titans win is with the draft capital gained. After trading a 2026 fifth-round selection for Jones in September, the team flipped the linebacker and secured a 2025 fourth-round pick for a player with an expiring contract who was most likely not in the team’s long-term plans. 

Jones was a solid addition to the Titans’ defense and seemed like a solid fit during his short stay in Nashville. However, with the season trending in the wrong direction, moving on from a potential free agent and receiving any type of compensation is a coup. 

The Titans appear to be headed into a total rebuild, and these trades could be the opening for more transactions in the coming days. Stay tuned to Titans Wire for all of the updates.

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Ex-Dolphins LB Jerome Baker traded after only 5 games with Seahawks

Jerome Baker spent six years with the Dolphins, but didn’t last long with his second team.

Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker spent six seasons in South Beach, but his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks was exceedingly brief.

Baker, 27, was traded to the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday as part of a deal that sent linebacker Ernest Jones IV to Seattle, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

The Dolphins released Baker in March, clearing $9.8 million in cap space with the move. They filled his spot on the roster by signing former Seattle first-round pick Jordyn Brooks to a three-year, $26.25 million deal — effectively making it a swap of the two linebackers with Baker joining the Seahawks.

But Baker dealt with lingering hamstring issues and appeared in only five games with the Seahawks before he was dealt to Tennessee.

Through six games with Miami this season, Brooks has received a career-best 65.6 grade from PFF. Baker received a 62.7 grade in his five games with Seattle.

The Titans reportedly received a fourth-round pick in the deal.

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Report: Titans trading LB Ernest Jones IV to Seahawks

The Tennessee Titans made a second trade on Wednesday sending starting LB Ernest Jones to the Seahawks.

The Tennessee Titans appear to be waving the white flag on the 2024 season. Hours after word broke that the team was trading away WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs, word of a second trade came out. 

According to multiple sources, the Titans are trading LB Ernest Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for LB Jerome Baker and a fourth-round selection in the NFL draft. 

It’s an interesting move coming just months after the Titans acquired Jones from the Los Angeles Rams prior to the start of the 2024 season. In the trade, the Titans received Jones and a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round selection.

Jones has been a tremendous addition to the Titans’ defense and has fit seamlessly into defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s unit. Jones started five games, making 44 tackles (29 solo) during his short stint with the Titans. 

The move signals that Jones, who is in the final year of his contract, was not going to be part of the plan moving forward. The team drafted Cedric Gray, who could be activated to the 53-man roster this week, in the 2024 NFL draft and have now gained some extra draft capital to assist in their rebuild. 

With the Titans entering fire sale territory, more moves will likely be on the horizon. Check back for any and all updates. 

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Seahawks trade Jerome Baker to Titans for LB Ernest Jones IV

Seahawks trade Jerome Baker to Titans for LB Ernest Jones IV

The Seattle Seahawks had a considerable need at linebacker, and it looks like they got the help they needed. On Wednesday morning, the Seahawks traded away linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth round pick to the Tennessee Titans to acquire linebacker Ernest Jones IV.

Jones, a former Los Angeles Ram, returns to the NFC West to help his former division rival stay in first place.

Linebacker was a position the Seahawks decided to revamp this offseason with a pair of veterans on one-year deals, one of which was Jerome Baker. The decision to do so was not panning out the way Seattle had hoped. Baker was making very little impact on the field, only recording 17 solo tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in the Giants game.

Jones presents a clear upgrade at the position. Originally drafted by the Rams in 2021, he spent the first three years of his career in the City of Angels – including helping them win Super Bowl LVI. Last year, he recorded a career-best 145 tackles. This summer, he was traded to the Titans. Now, he has been traded once more, and returning to the west coast.

Jones is on the final year of his rookie contract and will be a free agent following the conclusion of this season, which is what would have been the case for Jerome Baker.

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Should Seahawks sign LB Devin White?

Should Seahawks sign LB Devin White?

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was critical of his second-level run defense following Sunday’s disappointing defeat to the New York Giants. The Seahawks own the league’s 20th-ranked run defense heading into Thursday’s primetime divisional showdown with the San Francisco 49ers. If general manager John Schneider wants to add competition to the linebacker position next alongside Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson, a potentially intriguing opportunity just became available.

The Philadelphia Eagles released Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White from his contract earlier this week. White was deemed a poor fit for the defense despite signing a one-year contract worth $7.5 million in the offseason. Veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had been opting to start Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean at linebacker instead.

White was previously a five-year starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and shouldn’t be available on the open market for long. After three consecutive 100-plus tackle campaigns, White totaled 83 tackles in 14 appearances last season. Teams searching for veteran linebacker help will be attentive.

It’s worth acknowledging Pro Football Focus credited White with nine missed tackles and a lackluster run stopping grade of 30.8 last season. Defending the run has typically been a weakness for White. His PFF run-stopping grades were 29.0 and 42.6 in 2021 and 2022.

Perhaps the Seahawks should consider playing fourth-round rookie Tyrice Knight if they’re so disappointed with their linebacker play. It’s more likely that Baker and Dodson will continue receiving opportunities to improve their second-level discipline. In the meantime, Schneider could ponder adding White to the mix.

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Seahawks LB Jerome Baker comments on run defense criticism

Seahawks LB Jerome Baker comments on run defense criticism

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was critical of his run defense following Sunday’s disappointing defeat to the New York Giants. Seattle allowed Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. to rush for 129 yards in his first career start, giving up 7.2 yards per carry to the first-year ball carrier via 18 attempts. Macdonald discussed his second-level run defense following the lackluster performance.

“The second level run fits are falling short,” Macdonald told local media earlier this week.

That would presumably include starting off-ball linebacker Jerome Baker, who had 14 tackles and one sack versus the Giants. Baker met with the media following Tuesday’s practice session. Corbin Smith asked the veteran linebacker about Macdonald’s criticism of the run fits.

“I think we’re all just trying to make the play,” Baker said. “We kind of got out of position sometimes. I think that’s the main thing. The intent is there, but we all gotta do our one job, and that’s how our defense plays. If I do my job and T [Dodson] does his job, Hank does his job, and Leo does his job, we’d be a great defense. We all just gotta do our job, and we’ll be fine.”

https://twitter.com/CorbinSmithNFL/status/1843751226737045629

Baker appears to agree with Macdonald’s criticism, admitting that the defense has been lacking gap discipline on certain run fits. The Seahawks are taking the league’s 20th-ranked run defense (128/contest) in Thursday night’s primetime divisional showdown with the San Francisco 49ers. Baker and his teammates must showcase better discipline against the run to begin course-correcting.

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Seahawks haven’t gotten 2nd-level run support from linebackers

Seahawks haven’t gotten 2nd-level run support from linebackers

The Seattle Seahawks struggled to defend the run in Sunday’s disappointing Week 5 defeat to the New York Giants. The Giants were without starting running back Devin Singletary due to injury. That apparently did not matter, as rookie ball carrier Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for 129 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry via 18 attempts in his first career start.

Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones also scrambled for 38 yards via 11 carries. Seattle simply could not stop a Giants rushing attack that helped their offense win the time of possession battle 37:22 to 22:38. The clock-controlled Giants also gained 24 first downs versus Seattle’s 17.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald had an opportunity to analyze the film of Sunday’s defeat prior to Monday’s regularly scheduled press conference. Macdonald had plenty of deserved criticism for starting linebackers Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson. The cornerbacks and safeties were also included in his statement.

“We’re not leveraging the ball well on the second level as well as we need to be,” Macdonald told reporters during Monday’s meeting with the press. “The second level run fits are falling short,” Macdonald concluded.

Dodson was credited with nine total tackles and a sack versus the Giants. Baker recorded a team-high 14 tackles and added a sack of his own. Pro Football Focus credited Dodson with a season-high defensive grade of 83.0, including a 70.9 as a run defender. Baker had a stellar PFF grade of 72.3 with a run defense score of 82.0

Macdonald clearly did not agree with those assessments and the numbers indicate Baker and Dodson struggled versus the Giants, as the off-ball linebackers often have run-game responsibility. The Seahawks face the San Francisco 49ers and their seventh-ranked rushing attack (144.0/game) on Thursday Night Football. Baker and Dodson will be tasked with putting forth bounce-back performances.

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Seahawks’ Rayshawn Jenkins makes history with 102-yard fumble recovery

Seahawks S Rayshawn Jenkins makes history with 102-yard fumble recovery

It is always a good day to make positive franchise history, and that is exactly what strong safety Rayshawn Jenkins did for the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks are hosting the New York Giants, and despite New York’s overall offensive ineptitude, they were putting together a solid opening drive. The Giants, following a sack on first down, were starting backed up on their own five-yard line. However, New York was shockingly able to move the ball all the way to Seattle’s goal line.

But that is where it concluded. Running back Eric Gray, playing in place of the inactive Devin Singletary, lost control of the football. Jerome Baker, returning after missing Monday Night Football, forced the ball out of his hands, where it was scooped up by Rayshawn Jenkins…

…who promptly returned the ball 101 yards for the first touchdown of the afternoon.

The 102-yard return is officially the longest fumble recovery in Seahawks history. Not a bad way to start the day!

At the time of this article’s publishing, the Seahawks and Giants are tied at 7-7 in the middle of the second quarter. Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter for more live updates, analysis and highlights.

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Week 4 inactives: Jerome Baker and 6 others will not play on MNF

Week 4 inactives: Jerome Baker and 6 others will not play on MNF

The Seattle Seahawks are headed into a Monday Night Football showdown with the Detroit Lions rather shorthanded. They have already ruled out stud defenders Byron Murphy II, Leonard Williams and Boye Mafe. Unfortunately, it appears linebacker Jerome Baker will be joining them.

The Seahawks will have to face a Lions team desperate to keep pace with the surprisingly 4-0 Minnesota Vikings, and find a way to snap their losing streak to Seattle.

The full inactives list for both teams can be seen below.

Seahawks Inactives:

  • LB Uchenna Nwosu
  • LB Jerome Baker
  • G Sataoa Laumea
  • T Michael Jerrell
  • DT Byron Murphy II
  • DE Leonard Williams

Lions Inactives:

  • DB Brian Branch
  • OL Giovanni Manu
  • C Frank Ragnow
  • WR Isaiah Williams

Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 for live updates, analysis and highlights during tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

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