How much the Seahawks paid for five games of traded linebacker Jerome Baker

The Seattle Seahawks overhauled their linebacker crew this offseason and have continued to make changes throughout the regular season.

During the offseason, Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks, who were starters, left in free agency to join the Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins respectively. Seattle brought in Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson as replacements, and also drafted Tyrice Knight in the fourth round. Baker, who signed a one-year contract worth up to $7 million, was the most costly addition. However, he was later traded to the Tennessee Titans along with a fourth-round pick for Ernest Jones IV.

Baker made a strong start with a fumble recovery in his Seahawks debut and a crucial pass breakup against the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury sidelined him for two regular season games and most of training camp. Upon his return in Week 5, his performances were underwhelming, contributing to ongoing run defense issues for the Seahawks.

Cost of Signing Jerome Baker for the Seahawks

Here is a breakdown of Baker’s contract:

$2,022,500 base salary (guaranteed)

$4,000,000 signing bonus (guaranteed)

$57,500 per game roster bonus ($977,500 total)

Total Cost of Baker for Five Games Played with Seahawks

Field Gulls Deputy Editor John Gilbert calculated the total cost for the Seahawks over Baker’s five games played:

$4,000,000 signing bonus

$287,500 (five per game roster bonuses for active gamedays)

$786,528 (seven weekly game checks from base salary)

In total, the Seahawks paid $5,074,028 for Baker. The signing bonus cannot be recovered, resulting in $4 million in dead money, adding to the already significant dead money incurred this year from other departures.

It is evident that the free agent move did not go as planned, prompting Seattle to seek a swift solution. The hope is that Ernest Jones IV can step in as an immediate upgrade and potential candidate for a contract extension, leading to positive outcomes for the Seahawks in both the short and long term.