The Cleveland Browns agree to a deal with free agent linebacker Jerome Baker.
31 mins
As first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with linebacker Jerome Baker. A native of Ohio who played at Benedictine High School and played collegiately at Ohio State, Baker has taken a winding road to the Browns. No terms have been disclosed.
#Browns have agreed to terms with linebacker Jerome Baker, a Cleveland native and former #Buckeye, source says.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 22, 2025
Baker was a third round pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 draft. He appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, starting 11. He recorded three sacks a pick six that season. In all, he played six seasons for the Dolphins, starting 82 and was able to stay on the field throughout his tenure. After the 2023 season, Baker signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent for $7 million. after fives games, the Seahawks ended up trading Baker to the Tennessee Titans for a fourth-round pick. He finished out the year appearing in five more games, starting three.
Now, Baker returns home in his eighth season. The appeal for the Browns is Baker's speed and range. Jim Schwartz, the defensive coordinator for the Browns covets these traits at the second level of his defense. Because of how aggressive he likes to play, he wants as much speed as he can get. That's particularly important at linebacker in cases where they might need to be able to make the defensive line right. On plays that can catch the defense in a bad spot, rangy linebackers can help mitigate the damage.
Baker isn't the only player the Browns have signed with local ties. The team also signed Baldwin Wallace graduate and defensive back Anthony Kendall to a contract this offseason. Kendall was a player the Browns liked the year he came out, but he ended up signing as an undrafted rookie with the Titans and found his way onto the field.
The Browns also re-signed Devin Bush at the linebacker level, so these two moves help to fortify their depth. Bush is able to play MIKE and Baker can play the WILL in this defensive scheme.
With no clarity on the situation around Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the Browns appear to be doing everything to cover their bases. They need to be prepared for a world in which JOK is unable to play. The contract for Baker may determine just how big of an insurance policy he represents. If it's a one-year deal with minimal dollars, it may allow for the possibility that JOK returns. If there's significant guaranteed dollars attached, it might indicate the team is preparing not to have their star linebacker this season.
Stay tuned to theOBR for further details.