Tag: Jerome baker

Titans complete free-agent visit with LB Jerome Baker

The Titans and former Dolphins LB Jerome Baker completed a free-agent visit recently.

The Tennessee Titans have addressed the linebacker position this offseason with the signing of Kenneth Murray, but they still need to add one more starting-caliber linebacker.

Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker is a possibility after he met with the Titans this week in a free-agent visit, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Schefter’s tweet was posted Friday, but he originally reported the Titans would meet with Baker on Thursday. The former third-round pick is also garnering interest from the Seattle Seahawks.

Baker is exactly what the doctor ordered in the Titans’ current situation. After all, he’s more well-rounded and better in coverage than Murray, making him a perfect complement.

Our Bryce Lazenby gave the Titans a “C-“ for the Murray deal because of his limitations, but that signing will look a lot better if Tennessee can land Baker in tandem.

We can’t say for certain, but Baker’s visits are probably centered around medicals for the 27-year-old, who had wrist surgery earlier this year, which forced him to miss the playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Seahawks meeting with free agent LB Jerome Baker today

Seahawks meeting with free agent LB Jerome Baker today

One of the biggest questions the Seattle Seahawks have faced thus far in the offseason has been “who is going to play linebacker for them?” With Bobby Wagner headed to the Washington Commanders, and Jordyn Brooks taking his talents to the South Beach, Seattle’s linebacker room has suddenly become rather empty.

The Seahawks did manage to help restock this particular cupboard last night. Former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson was signed after starting 10 games and appearing in all 17 for Buffalo last season. Now it seems Seattle has their eyes set on another former AFC East linebacker: Jerome Baker.

After entering into the league as a third round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, Baker has been a lifelong Miami Dolphin. For the first time in his career, this looks like it will change.Ā Should the Seahawks manage to sign Baker, it will be somewhat of an indirect trade as both Seattle and Miami will essentially be swapping out linebackers.

Last year for the Dolphins, Baker started in 12 out of 13 games played, recorded 78 total tackles, snagged two interceptions and even scored a touchdown.

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Report: Dolphins expected to finalize bringing back DB Nik Needham

The Dolphins keep another one of their DBs around.

Per Barry Jackson, the Dolphins are interested in bringing back defensive back, Nik Needham. An undrafted free agent in 2019, Needham re-signed with Miami last season, and clearly, the versatile boundary cornerback/turn slot-specialist/safety candidate’s work is not done in South Florida.

The potential deal will help maintain consistency in a secondary that will not have Xavien Howard, the longest-tenured defensive Dolphin from last yearā€™s team. Connecting some dots, as a rookie, Needham subbed in for an injured Howard and performed well on the outside in 2019, playing in 12 games in which he started 11. He registered 11 passes defensed, including two interceptions in relief.

Needham followed his rookie year with two consecutive seasons in which he registered a pair of interceptions, and in 2021, he was considered a top-tier slot corner in the entire NFL. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, his 2021 coverage grade from the slot was the best in the league (90.8), as he didnā€™t allow a single touchdown from that area of the field that season. 2022 was looking to continue that momentum until an Achilles injury occurred in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, ending his season.

2023 was essentially a wash, as Needham rehabbed his injury and returned to the 53-man roster yet didnā€™t have ample opportunity to show his skills to then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio during OTAs and training camp. A new defensive coordinator in Anthony Weaver could create a chance for Needham to return to his 2021 form if utilized in the slot, or should he be a prime candidate to step in for Xavien Howard, as he has proven to handle that task as well.

Intriguing as well is the fact that Needham has safety ability, and Miami does have a few more unrestricted free agents in DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones to think about. The move to retain Needham creates flexibility, and it’s a bit unknown how this Dolphins’ secondary will look in 2024. All-World defensive back Jalen Ramsey could be used a bit more as a chess piece with this new scheme, and like Needham, fellow defensive backs Cam Smith and Kader Kohou could be moved around to different spots in the defensive backfield.

Whatever happens with the rest of the secondary, the defense, and the Dolphins, as a whole, is still up in the air. However, as this week ends, re-signing Needham was a step in the right direction. His work ethic, overall knowledge of the game, and potential are all reasons he was re-signed yet again by the team that saw his ability as a college student and took a chance on him five years ago.

Over his five-season career with the Dolphins, Needham has recorded 199 total tackles, 25 passes defensed, six interceptions, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble. He also took an interception to the house against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football back in 2021, a ā€œNik-6ā€ as some would call it.

EDIT: The deal has been agreed to, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

The Real Forno Show: 12 free agents Vikings should pursue

On the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, we discuss 12 free agents the Minnesota Vikings should pursue in free agency.

This is an incredibly pivotal offseason for the Minnesota Vikings. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is tasked with finding the future at the quarterback position along with potentially replacing Danielle Hunter and extending Justin Jefferson.

With nearly $40 million in salary cap space, there is plenty of salary cap space to make a splash and fortify the roster. On the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, we discuss 12 players that they should be targeting once the legal tampering period begins on March 11th.

  • Miami DT Christian Wilkins
  • Miami DE Emmanuel Ogbah
  • Miami ILB Jerome Baker
  • Cincinnati DT D.J. Reader
  • Seattle TE Noah Fant
  • Seattle ILB Jordyn Brooks
  • New York RB Saquon Barkley
  • San Francisco DT Javon Kinlaw
  • San Francisco EDGE Chase Young
  • Dallas EDGE Dorance Armstrong Jr.
  • Baltimore EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
  • Carolina ILB Frankie Luvu

Why should they target these players and which combinations would make sense to target in unison? How many do they “need to” sign?

We are here to break it all down and more on the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, airing Monday and Wednesday nights at 6 pm central on the Vikings 1st & SKOL YouTube channel.

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Dolphins release former Ohio State defender

Dolphins release former Ohio State defender #GoBucks

The Miami Dolphins have released starting inside linebacker and former Ohio State football standout Jerome Baker. The former Buckeye has been a stalwart for Miami and a starter since his rookie season in 2018. The Dolphins have had to release a number of former starters, including cornerback Xavien Howard and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, in an effort to get under the salary cap.

Cutting Baker frees an additional $9.8 million for Miami. The move wasn’t a surprise to Baker’s camp. He and the Dolphins had attempted to restructure his contract but failed. Players who are released are not required to wait until the start of free agency to sign with a new team, which means Baker is free to sign with a new NFL team now.

Baker wasn’t the most decorated linebacker in Ohio State history, but there is no doubt he played at an elite level during his time in Columbus. He played a meaningful role in his last two seasons at Ohio State before declaring for the NFL draft with a year of eligibility remaining.

 

Cleveland native Jerome Baker seems wide open to joining Browns

Take a look at Baker’s “like” section on X (formerly known as Twitter)…

With 2024 NFL free agency right around the corner, linebacker Jerome Baker appears open to returning home to Northeast Ohio and joining the Cleveland Browns.

After getting released by the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, Baker is now in search of a new home. As a native of Cleveland and a former Ohio State Buckeye, there is a natural allure to wanting to link him to the Browns. Baker himself seems open to it as well, liking a post that said, “Look good in Orange and Brown. C’mon home 216!”

The Browns, however, have not historically spent money at the linebacker position on the open market. They have signed Anthony Walker Jr. to just three consecutive one-year deals, re-signed Sione Takitaki to a one-year deal, and before that signed B.J. Goodson to just a one-year deal.

Just 27 years old and a proven contributor at the linebacker position, Baker might be worth stretching that mindset a bit. Only time will tell if the Benedictine alum will be on his way back to Cleveland.

15 free agents the Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Baltimore Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

TheĀ NFLā€™s new league is less than a week away. With theĀ legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Baltimore will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is the biggest concern this offseason after getting the franchise tag, but the Ravens must also navigate 26 looming free agents.

GM Eric DeCosta has clarified that heā€™s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

DeCosta and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players donā€™t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Baltimore could sign that wouldnā€™t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

15 free agents the Eagles can sign that don’t count against 2025 compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Philadelphia Eagles can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

TheĀ NFLā€™s new league is less than a week away. With theĀ legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Philadelphia will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass rusher Haason Reddick is the biggest concern this offseason, but the Eagles must also navigate 20 looming free agents.

GM Howie Roseman has clarified that heā€™s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

Roseman and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players donā€™t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Philadelphia could sign that wouldnā€™t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

Dolphins on the path to 2024 salary cap compliance

A path for Miami to get cap compliant by the start of the league year.

The Miami Dolphins are officially in salary cap-cutting mode heading into next week’s free agency and trading opening around the league.

Miami has made several business decisions this week, most notably deciding not to franchise tag defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, which will allow him to hit the open market in free agency

In addition to passing on putting the tag on the league’s leading tackler among all defensive tackles since 2019, general manager Chris Grier and the Dolphins have parted with linebacker Jerome Baker.

There were reported attempts to renegotiate his contract, but Baker was ultimately released. While there could be a window in a few months to bring him back on a discounted deal, this move was inevitable for the Dolphins to get cap-compliant next week.

Bakerā€™s release frees up roughly $9.8 million in salary cap 2024 for the Dolphins and comes with a dead cap of $4.9 million. The team also saved $2.9 million for 2024 by releasing defensive back and special teamer Keion Crossen.

Miami enters Wednesday, March 6, over the 2024 salary cap by $18.83 million. In exactly a week, at 4:00 p.m. ET, teams must be under the cap, and while that negative $18.8 million may seem daunting, there are several paths to getting into the black here.

Remember, this number doesnā€™t include the roughly $18 million that Miami will recoup post-June 1 from the Xavien Howard release. Of course, that money will be aimed at paying the rookie draft class, the second wave of free agency, any potential holdovers of potential re-signings of unrestricted free agents, or even a person like Baker.

Getting cap compliant can come from several combinations, and while restructuring contracts does kick the can down the road a bit, strategic reworkings of contracts for specific players could give Grier the keys to unlock what would be needed to retain and even bring in the proper talent.

With unrestricted free agents like Andrew Van Ginkel, Robert Hunt and Connor Williams joining Wilkins in this class, the Dolphins will have plenty of work to do in the next few days, even to give themselves the chips to sit in the middle of the table and offer some or even one of these players.

The easiest path to freeing money is via cuts, and there are about a half-dozen candidates for non-core players like a depth running back and backup linebacker, which can add several million back into Miami’s 2024 cap.

Restructuring veterans’ deals would be a more hazardous road with more work. Here are the players whose contracts could be restructured to help the Dolphins with their 2024 cap and upcoming free-agency efforts.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill is contracted through 2026, and restructuring his contract would save approximately $12.54 million in the 2024 cap, per Over the Cap. This would kick that money down the line over those next two years of the contract by around $7 million each on those salary caps in 2025 and 2026.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey has the easiest path to a near-instant compliance scenario. He’s set to have a potential 2024 restructure savings of $18.67 million, and according to Over the Cap, about $5-6 million in each of 2025 and 2026 would be added to those cap figures.

With these two contracts being the most fiscally beneficial for the Dolphins, another tricky option could be with linebacker Bradley Chubb. Regardless of saving around $14 million in potential 2024 savings on a restructure, moving money down the line on an injured player whose contract has an out next season may not be the most prudent move for Miami financially.

Another name to watch for potential easy restructuring is Zach Sieler, which could add around $5.5 million for 2024 while just placing about $3 million in 2025 and 2026.

Alec Ingold can work a quick restructure and save $1.7 million for 2024 without making a significant dent in the following years.

Lastly, the two longest-tenured Dolphins in Durham Smythe and Jason Sanders can restructure their contracts to free up $1.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

Miami has several paths to salary cap freedom and flexibility to do business when the free agency and trade markets open in a week. The question is, just how much business can they get away with, and how significant will that potential business be?

The action should continue this week. On March 11, teams can negotiate with their own unrestricted free agents, and just two days later, it’s open season for NFL moves around the league’s landscape.

Former Dolphins LB Jerome Baker had a classic reaction to his release

The recently released LB had nothing but love and jokes after he was cut.

On Tuesday, the Miami Dolphins released linebacker Jerome Baker in an effort to cut back on their salary-cap spending for the 2024 season, as they are still over the cap by quite a bit.

After the news broke, Baker took to social media to share his reaction to his release, which included sharing some love for his former team and referencing an iconic moment from the movie “Friday.”

Baker wasn’t the only one to share his thoughts on the move, as cornerback Jalen Ramsey also posted twice about it.

Baker spent six seasons with the Dolphins and was tied for the longest-tenured player on the team’s roster. Now, that title sits with Durham Smythe and Jason Sanders, who were also members of Miami’s 2018 draft class.