All Dolphins

Dolphins Player Profile: LB Jerome Baker

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker made some strides in the 2019 season in his second year in the NFL, but is 2020 when he becomes an impact player?

Alain Poupart

Brian Spurlock-USA Today Sports

As we continue through this offseason without minicamps, we'll be breaking down the players on the roster, review their 2019 performance and see how they fit for 2020.

We continue this series with linebacker Jerome Baker.

How he got to Miami

The Dolphins selected Baker in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft, taking the Ohio State linebacker with the 73rd overall pick.

Contract status

Baker is in the third year of the rookie contract he signed in 2018. Baker signed a four-year deal worth $3.8 million and will have a base salary of $810, 000 this season. He's scheduled to become a restricted free agent after the season.

2019 season

After starting 11 games as a rookie, Baker started 15 games last year and led the Dolphins in tackles with 124, a total that ranked 14th in the NFL. Baker had 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, which came against Eli Manning in the Week 15 game at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants. While Baker made a lot of tackles, he didn't have quite the dramatic impact one might have thought after what was a tremendous showing in training camp and the preseason.

2020 outlook

The Dolphins built up their depth at linebacker in the offseason by signing veteran free agents Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts, and those two figure to play prominent roles.

What remains to be seen is what kind of role the returning linebackers will have, and that includes Baker.

At 225 pounds, Baker is the lightest linebacker on the Dolphins roster, and the prototypical linebacker in a 3-4 scheme is on the heavier side.

That said, Baker can run and make plays sideline to sideline, so you figure that Brian Flores and new defensive coordinator Josh Boyer will find a way to make the most of Baker's talents. He also played 97 percent of the defensive snaps last season, but he's clearly somebody who's going to be a key part of the defense.

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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