Marcel Louis-Jacques, ESPN March 5, 2024, 4:57 p.m. ET
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- Marcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN as a beat reporter in 2019, covering the Buffalo Bills before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE Award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association Award for business writing in 2018.
MIAMI – The Dolphins have released linebacker Jerome Baker, the team announced Tuesday. This is the latest of several moves the Dolphins have made this offseason to regain financial flexibility.
Baker was the team's third-round pick in 2018 and has started 82 games in his six NFL seasons. The starting inside linebacker was entering the final year of a three-year, $37.5 million contract he signed in 2021; By releasing him, Miami will save $9.8 million against the salary cap this season.
Baker, who underwent wrist surgery in January, was released with a failed physical exam.
The Dolphins also announced they are releasing cornerback Keion Crossen, who missed the entire 2023 season with an injury that was described as a freak accident.
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In February, Miami released veteran Emmanuel Ogbah and designated cornerback Xavien Howard after June 1 – moves that will save the team about $32.5 million in 2014.
A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Baker and the Dolphins discussed a contract restructuring but were unable to come to an agreement. However, the door is not yet closed for Baker to return to the team after testing the free agent market.
General manager Chris Grier had a similar sentiment when discussing Howard's release.
“We had a long discussion and he understood it was a business decision,” Grier said. “Ultimately we just felt it was right for him to give his agent the opportunity to see what was there for him. But we didn’t close the door on it.”
“We will stay in touch as the process progresses and see what happens, and we have left the door open for him to potentially come back here as well.”
Miami declined to apply the franchise tag to any of its standout free agents, including defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Connor Williams. The team still has time to agree to a deal with each player before the league year begins on March 13 and free agency opens.