AP Photo/Jack Dempsey
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, has requested a trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who added more context behind the request :
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Team source: Budda Baker notified the Cardinals in February that he wanted to be traded or accept a new contract , making him the highest-paid safety.
Baker signed a four-year, $59 million extension in 2020. According to Over the Cap, he’s the seventh-highest earning safety in the league. He ranks ninth in total contract value.
In 15 games last year, Baker racked up 111 tackles (75 isolations), 7 pass breakups and Two interceptions.
Baker’s discontent has been evident lately.
Budda Baker’s Twitter profile then vs now.
AZ is now gone. pic.twitter.com/uxFvV1rz2J
Baker also posted a GIF of Michael Jordan from
Kyle from Seven Star Digital Kyle Odegard said it was “likely” Baker’s tweet expressed his displeasure with the team.
Kyle Odegard @Kyle_Odegard
I poked around and yes, Budda Baker MJ’s tweet was probably about the Cardinals displeasure.
The Cardinals are entering a new chapter adding a new general manager (Monti Ossenfort) and head coach (Jonathan Gannon) to a 4-13 team.
It’s possible they’ll decide to trade Baker for assets and pocket their salary cap savings to add even more players. The team also has plenty of holes and an uncertain short-term future, with franchise quarterback Kyler Murray returning from a torn ACL last season.
ESPN’s Field Yates on what Baker’s new team owes him in his current deal :
Field Yates
@FieldYates
If a team were to trade Budda Baker, his current contract owes as follows:
2023: $13.096 million
2024: $14.2 millionBaker is one of the most unique defensive players in the league given his versatility and ball-handling skills. https://t.co/59wKQDRam9
Baker gets a lot of praise and recognition as a team leader, and if Arizona decides to honor the trade request, he could take it with him.
Meanwhile, Baker appears to be part of the solution for turning things around in the desert. While the Cardinals struggled defensively last year (31st in points allowed), letting him go would only create bigger problems on the back end.
Anyway, the ball is now on the Cardinals court as one of their franchise players reportedly asked to be out of town Trading.
