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Defensive lineman Chris Baker is back on the market, as the former Washington Redskin was released by the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday. The move will save the Bengals an excess of $2 million, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Baker acknowledged his release shortly after word broke of the move.
Never easy getting cut but hey it’s part of the business Thank You @Bengals Coach Lewis Mike Brown for the opportunity. God is not done with me yet #staytuned #SWAGGYTIME
— Chris Baker (@cbakerswaggy) August 24, 2018
Since departing the Redskins in free agency following the 2016 season, Baker has struggled to stick with an NFL team. He signed a three-year deal in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers worth $15.75 million. However, he was cut by the Buccaneers after just one season, registering 0.5 sack in 15 games playing defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense.
He signed a one-year deal with the Bengals in March and received a $300,000 signing bonus and $150,000 workout bonus in the five months with the team.
Baker now hits the free agency market looking to hatch on with a new team. It will be interesting to see if there is a public cry from fans for the Redskins to take a look at their former fan favorite. Baker recorded 56 tackles and 9.5 sacks while forcing five fumbles in his last two of five seasons with the Redskins playing the 5-technique in the 3-4.
There was some steam this past spring for the Redskins to reunite with Baker, but the team was not interested then, and there’s an assumption they may not be this time around either.
The Redskins’ strongest position unit is indeed their defensive line, as they have built a young, hungry, and talented group through the draft with Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and Tim Settle leading the youth movement.
