Getty Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin
By the end of the offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed three free agent inside linebackers last year. But general manager Omar Khan is expected to make the position a priority in free agency once again this offseason. That could especially be the case with the Miami Dolphins releasing veteran Jerome Baker on March 5.
Following his release, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly expressed a lot of confidence on X (formerly Twitter) that the Steelers will target Baker in free agency.
“Would not be stunned if Steelers bring in Jerome Baker at ILB,” Kaboly wrote. “Actually, I’d say there is a good chance.”
Kaboly was one of a few members of Steelers media who connected the team to Baker in the few hours after his release.
“Reunite Jerome Baker with Elandon Roberts? Don’t mind if the Steelers do!” 93.7 The Fans’ Chris Mueller wrote on X.
Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney and Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders also linked the Steelers to Baker on March 5.
“Coming out of Ohio State, the Steelers had some interest in Baker as that new-age linebacker with great sideline-to-sideline speed and range and strong ability in coverage,” Carney wrote. “He has 5 career interceptions and has thrived as a 3-down linebacker, consistently 60 or higher (in Pro Football Focus player grades) in coverage, including 70 or higher the last two seasons.”
Baker signed a 3-year, $37.5 million extension with the Dolphins ahead of the 2023 season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Miami released Baker to save almost $10 million in cap space on March 5.
The veteran linebacker underwent offseason wrist surgery. In 13 games during 2023, he posted 78 combined tackles, including 2 tackles for loss. Baker also had 4 quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, 3 pass defenses and 2 interceptions.
Dolphins Release Jerome Baker
Miami has cut several veterans, especially on defense, in an effort to clear cap space this offseason. Baker became the latest casualty just about a week prior to NFL free agency.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques reported that the Dolphins released Baker with a “failed physical designation.” Baker underwent surgery on his wrist in January.
Schefter reported that the Dolphins “left the door open” to Baker potentially coming back to Miami next season on a new contract. But now that he becomes a free agent, other suitors such as the Steelers will enter the fray.
Baker began his career as a third-round pick for the Dolphins in the 2018 NFL draft. He has only played for Miami.
Over six seasons with the Dolphins, he posted 587 combined tackles, including 31 tackles for loss, 46 quarterback hits and 22.5 sacks in 94 games. He also had 21 pass defenses, 6 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions.
He started 82 of his 94 games with Miami.
How Baker Could Fit With the Steelers Next to Former Teammate Elandon Roberts
Baker is an obvious fit with the Steelers for a couple reasons.
First, the Steelers will likely be in the market for inside linebacker depth this offseason. Both Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander suffered season-ending injuries during 2023, which left the Steelers in a situation where they had to play Myles Jack significant snaps in December just weeks after signing him out of retirement.
Alexander is an unrestricted free agent. Holcomb is set to be back, but Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters at the NFL combine that the team doesn’t have a timetable for his return.
Signing Baker would give the Steelers extra depth, but as Mueller noted, it would also reunite Baker with former teammate Elandon Roberts.
Baker and Roberts played three seasons together with the Dolphins from 2020-22. They started 37 games together at inside linebacker, including all 17 regular season contests in 2022, during that 3-year stretch. They also both started Miami’s playoff game following the 2022 season.
With Baker and Roberts as their starting inside linebackers for every game in 2022, the Dolphins were fourth in run defense and sixth in yards allowed per carry.
Given Pittsburgh’s need at inside linebacker and that familiarity, it’s hard to disagree with Kaboly. It would be rather surprising if the Steelers don’t at least pursue Baker in free agency.