Budda Baker has been with the Cardinals for six years, becoming a perennial Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. But the standout safety has become dissatisfied with his situation.
The Cardinals have received a Baker trade request, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Baker recently removed Cardinals mentions from his Twitter profile. His most recent post/GIF effectively set the table for this request, with veteran Cardinals reporter Kyle Odegard indicating (via Twitter) it was likely aimed at dissatisfaction with the Cardinals. Two seasons remain on Baker’s contract, a $14.75MM-per-year deal he signed in 2020.
Baker, 27, is one of the Cards’ team leaders and is the longest-tenured player left on Arizona’s defense. This is not a recent development, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss and Jeremy Fowler, who indicate (via Twitter) Baker has been unhappy with the team for much of the offseason.
The former second-round pick has made the Pro Bowl four years running. This coming season represents the first without any guaranteed money on Baker’s second contract. he is tied to base salaries of $13.1MM (2023) and $14.2MM (’24). It is unknown if Baker’s disappointment is contract-related or stems from the Cardinals’ current circumstances.
The Cards have hired a new GM and HC (Monti Ossenfort, Jonathan Gannon), moving on from Steve Keim — who drafted Baker six years ago — and Kliff Kingsbury. Former Cardinals safety and veteran exec Adrian Wilson is no longer with the club, either, having left for a Panthers position. The defense has also undergone some changes, losing Byron Murphy, Zach Allen and J.J. Watt this offseason. Longtime Cardinals exec Terry McDonough also created a new batch of headlines via his cheating claims against owner Michael Bidwill, charges the team has denied as it has gone on the attack against the former front office bastion.
Regardless of the motivation here, Baker’s trade ask comes during an offseason in which the team has made considerable changes. The Cardinals, who snapped a playoff drought in 2021, are no longer expected to contend. Kyler Murray is not expected to be ready for the start of the season, and the team has made it known DeAndre Hopkins is available via trade.
In addition to his place as a Cardinals leader, Baker is one of the NFL’s best safeties. He earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2020 and collected second-team honors in 2021, helping the Cards to the playoffs largely without the…