Exploring Dolphins’ options to replace Baker, including one they pursued in ’23. And notes

Already with needs to fill at cornerback and safety and with multiple spots open on their offensive and defensive lines, the Dolphins suddenly have another need – starting inside linebacker – amid the release of Jerome Baker.

Here’s one thing that’s clear: The linebacker signed to play opposite David Long Jr. must be skilled in pass coverage. Long graded out as Pro Football Focus’ best linebacker against the run but one of the worst against the pass.

Baker’s replacement must be able to handle one of the NFL’s most difficult jobs - sticking with fleet running backs or big tight ends and contesting throws.

It’s not out of the question that Baker could return, but he likely would not have rejected the Dolphins’ pay cut if his agent Drew Rosenhaus didn’t believe there was more money available for him elsewhere.

The best available inside linebacker - the Ravens’ Patrick Queen - could very well be out of Miami’s price range. He had 133 tackles last season, was ranked 17th best among all inside linebackers in pass coverage (per PFF) and has experience with new Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who came over from Baltimore’s staff.

PFF projects he will command $18 million a season and $50 million guaranteed. The Dolphins would need to do incredible cap gymnastics to afford that type of contract, especially with all their needs elsewhere.

Here are more affordable options:

▪ Houston’s Blake Cashman: He had 106 tackles in a breakout season in 2023, and PFF rated him 16th among linebackers against the pass. He had an interception and allowed a solid 91.5 passer rating in his coverage area in 14 games and 13 starts. (Baker was comparable, with a 92.3 passer rating against.)

And Cashman would be affordable; PFF predicts he will get a two-year deal worth $8.25 million and adds this: “Over the past two seasons, Cashman has racked up 19 pressures, five sacks and five quarterback hits on just 94 pass rush snaps, which will be the skill he hangs his hat on in free agency.”

▪ The Chiefs’ Drue Tranquill: He told NFL Network’s James Palmer that Miami, Philadelphia and Kansas City were his three finalists last season and he chose the Chiefs on a one-year, $3 million deal.

Interest again from Miami wouldn’t be surprising; he had 78 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 16 games and eight starts and allowed just a 93.8 passer rating in his coverage area. He had 146 tackles for the Chargers a year earlier.

PFF predicts he will get a two-year, $10 million deal, adding: “Tranquill is light on his feet and can get washed out of plays against the run, but he more than makes up for it in coverage and as a free rusher. Tranquill has recorded 33 quarterback pressures and 10 sacks dating back to 2022.”

▪Kansas City’s Willie Gay: He had 58 tackles in 16 games and 15 starts. Though he has the athleticism to be productive in coverage, he wasn’t great at it last season, allowing 36 of 45 passes to be caught and a 101.6 passer rating against.

PFF predicts he will get a one-year, $3.75 million deal, adding: “Gay is perhaps the best lateral athlete of the Chiefs’ loaded linebacker corps, often drawing the quarterback spy role and earning some of the more challenging coverage responsibilities after starting out his career as a pure downhill attacker. The former second-round pick is a quality weakside linebacker.”

▪ Tampa Bay’s Devin White: A Pro Bowler in 2021, he was benched during Tampa Bay’s playoff run, which is a red flag, though he had 83 tackles and a good 83.1 passer rating in his coverage area.

▪ Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David: Now 34, the Miami native remains productive, with 134 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season. PFF predicts he will make $5 million on a one-year contract, which is affordable.

The Dolphins have discussed David as an option, but could opt for someone younger.

PFF says: “David is one of the greatest coverage linebackers ever to play the game, and as more time passes, his thinking one step ahead of the opposing quarterback is on display more and more each week, overcoming some physical limitations through an unrivaled knowledge of the game.”

▪ Denver’s Josey Jewell: He’s productive (108 tackles, three sacks last season) and affordable, with PFF predicting a two-year $12.5 million deal. But last season, he allowed too many completions – 35 of 41 targets for 352 yards and a 110.6 passer rating.

“Jewell may not be great in any one facet of linebacker play, but he’s good in all of them,” PFF said.

▪ Buffalo’s Tyrel Dodson: Played generally well for Buffalo as an injury-replacement starter last season, with 74 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 17 games and 10 starts, but with a 104.7 passer rating in his coverage area.

PFF says he will make in the $3.25 million range, adding: “Dodson is undersized at 6-foot and 237 pounds but made up for it with a good understanding of angles and leverage, getting to his spot quickly and staying springy on the balls of his feet.”

▪ Philadelphia’s Zach Cunningham: He had 85 tackles in 13 games and 10 starts for the Eagles and a solid 89.8 passer rating in his coverage area.

PFF predicts he will need to settle for a one year, $2.75 million deal.

▪ Cleveland’s Anthony Walker Jr.: He had 42 tackles in 12 starts for the Browns last season, but he has been snakebitten by injuries the past two seasons and had a poor 134.5 passer rating against in 2023.

▪ Philadelphia’s Nicholas Morrow: Had 95 tackles and three sacks in 15 games and 12 starts last season but had a bloated 116 passer rating against. PFF predicts a two-year, $6 million deal.

▪ Philadelphia’s Shaq Leonard: A former three-time first team All Pro (most recently in 2021), Leonard was waived by the Colts last November when he complained about his playing time, then had 23 tackles in five games and three starts for the Eagles. But he finished the season with a 106 passer rating against.

▪Houston’s Denzel Perryman: The former UM standout, now 31, had 76 tackles in 12 games (11 starts) for the Texans, but his 124 passer rating against was among the league’s worst for inside linebackers.

▪ San Francisco’s Oren Burks: He had a solid 88.1 passer rating against with 46 tackles in 15 games and five starts for the 49ers.

▪ Pittsburgh’s Kwon Alexander: He had 41 tackles and permitted just a 67.1 passer rating in his coverage area last season (in 30 targets) in nine games and two starts for the Steelers.

▪ Seattle’s Jordyn Brooks: PFF predicts he will command about $12 million annually, so he’s probably too pricey for Miami. He had 111 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a solid 93.2 passer rating in his coverage area last season.

He had a torn ACL in December 2022, and PFF said: “Perhaps it would be wise for Brooks to sign a shorter deal that enables him to get back on the market sooner for another bite at the apple, with more good play to put on tape another year removed from his torn ACL.”

▪ Carolina’s Frankie Luvu: PFF projects he will command $10 million per year, and he isn’t necessarily the best fit because he’s much better against the run than in coverage. Miami already has a linebacker like that in Long. Luvu had a bloated 107.6 passer rating in his coverage area last season.

▪ Seattle’s Bobby Wagner: The Dolphins have stayed away from older free agents in recent years, and Wagner is 33.

He led the NFL in tackles with 183 last season. But he allowed 49 of 60 passes to be caught for 516 yards, with a 113.5 passer rating in his coverage area.

PFF, which predicts he will get a one-year, $4 million deal, said: “Wagner has lost athletic ability in space, but he’s made up a lot of that ground due to his play recognition and football IQ.”

▪ Minnesota’s Jordan Hicks: Not a good fit because he’s 31 and also limited in coverage (113 passer rating against). His 103 tackles last season will put him on the radar of some teams.

▪ Tennessee’s Azeez Al Shaair: Not the best fit because he’s much better against the run than pass – he had a 100.8 passer rating in his coverage area last season – and his game too closely mirrors Long’s. PFF predicts he will command a three year $20 million deal.

▪ Former Chargers linebacker Erik Kendricks: Released this week, he had 117 tackles and four sacks for the Chargers but is on the wrong side of 30 (32) and allowed a 101.2 passer rating in his coverage area.

Incidentally, Duke Riley - who remains under contract with Miami - had a 116.8 passer rating in his coverage area last season.

THIS AND THAT

The Dolphins have shown some interest in retaining impending unrestricted free agent running back Salvon Ahmed, whose season ended with a Nov. 19 foot injury against the Raiders. He’s expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 season.

He has averaged 3.6 yards on 163 career carries and has value on special teams and as a receiver out of the backfield.

Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., DeVon Achane and Chris Brooks remain under contract, but it remains to be seen if the Dolphins retain Wilson because his cap hit would shrink from $3.7 million to $782,500 if he’s released. His physical running style has value.

▪ Couple things from Drew Rosenhaus on two of his clients, during a WQAM appearance with Joe Rose on Wednesday:

On free agent tight end Jonnu Smith, who visited the Dolphins this week and is negotiating a contract with the team: “Jonnu, who is absolutely one of the most attractive free agent tight ends on the market right now, he had a good meeting with the Dolphins.

“We have had discussions, but that’s really the most that I can say about that one right now. It’s a fluid situation. There are other teams involved and we’ll just have to see how it shakes out here over the next period of of days and such.”

On the Dolphins announcing Baker’s release with a failed physical designation, Rosenhaus said:

“It’s always a surprise with a great football player like Jerome who’s in his prime and played so well last year. We wouldn’t be having this discussion had it not been for the knee injury that Jerome suffered when his teammate ran into his knee and he sprained his MCL in the Commanders game and certainly the injury that he suffered against the Bills with a dislocated wrist.

“Jerome, in my opinion, has been one of the best players overall on the Dolphins since he was drafted here six years ago, has been a great leader, has had the green dot, he’s been a Walter Payton Man of the Year.

“The coaches shared with Jerome they were interested in him coming back. I think this was more of a salary thing. And certainly there’s interest in Jerome with the Dolphins organization and it’s mutual, but we couldn’t reach a satisfactory agreement in time and as a result he’s now a free agent.”