Jerome Baker, Dolphins come to phrases on three-year, $39M extension with $28.4M assured, per report

Jerome Baker might be staying in Miami for the foreseeable future. The veteran linebacker has come to phrases with the Dolphins on a three-year extension price $39 million, in keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The extension additionally comes with $28.4 million assured. 

The 24-year-old Baker was the Dolphins’ third-round choose within the 2018 draft. He put up stable numbers throughout his first two seasons earlier than having fun with a breakout marketing campaign in 2020. In 16 video games (11 begins) at proper inside linebacker, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Baker logged 112 tackles (seven for loss), seven sacks, and two compelled fumbles for the Dolphins. Baker’s play was an enormous motive why Miami’s protection completed sixth within the NFL in scoring, first in third down effectivity and seventh in pink zone effectivity. The Dolphins, on the power of their protection, completed with a 10-6 report throughout Brian Flores’ second season on the sideline. 

A Cleveland, Ohio native, Baker performed school soccer about two hours south at Ohio State. He tallied 155 tackles throughout his ultimate two seasons in Columbus whereas serving to the Buckeyes seize two Massive Ten titles and a victory within the 2017 Rose Bowl. 

An activate participant at Dolphins OTAs, Baker not too long ago expressed his need to stick with the Dolphins. Baker had been getting into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract. 

“I wish to play right here for the remainder of my profession. I adore it right here,” Baker mentioned, by way of NFL.com. “I really like the followers. I really like the group. I really like all people right here. Yeah, I undoubtedly see myself enjoying right here for a very long time.”

Flores not too long ago lauded Baker’s total enchancment since their first season collectively in 2019. 

“Jerome has made loads of enhancements and has gotten higher in actually all areas,” Flores mentioned. “I feel he is robust, he is sensible, he is aggressive, he likes to play, he is team-first. He is actually gotten higher in each space – go protection, run protection, actually throughout the board. He is an excellent participant. We’re enthusiastic about working with him and he is a workforce man. I feel that is the factor I favored most about him is he is a workforce participant. He desires to win and we’re excited to have him.”