Jerome Baker: Everything you need to know

Baker recorded 40 total tackles (11 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles over 17 games in 2025. The Ohio State product had the least productive season of his NFL career in 2025, tallying career lows in total tackles and passes defensed while playing his fewest defensive snaps (261) since entering the league in 2018. Despite the reduced role, Baker remained an important part of the Browns' defense, tying his career high in forced fumbles while contributing on special teams (205 special-teams snaps). Entering unrestricted free agency this offseason, Baker will likely find work as a reserve inside linebacker ahead of the 2026 season.

Baker and the Browns have agreed to terms on a contract, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Baker is no stranger to Ohio, as he was born in Cleveland and played college football at Ohio State. The 28-year-old had a tumultuous 2024 season, as he began the year in Seattle before being traded to Tennessee in October and finished with a career-low total of 61 tackles (including 2.0 sacks) over 10 regular-season games. Baker gives the Browns some much-needed depth at linebacker with the NFL future of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah uncertain due to a neck injury that caused him to sit out Cleveland's final nine games last year.

Baker finished the 2024 season with 51 total tackles (34 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding two passes defensed over 10 games. Baker signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Seahawks in March, appearing in five games with the team before being traded to Tennessee in late October. The linebacker played in a career-low 10 games in 2024 with the Seahawks and Titans, which led to the lowest tackle output of his seven-year NFL career. Baker will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and he'll likely have plenty of teams interested in signing him.