The Budda Baker trade chatter is back, but the latest word from one of the league’s most plugged-in insiders points toward Arizona keeping its star safety right where he is.
With the Cardinals sitting at 3-5 and the Nov. 10 deadline approaching, Baker has once again landed in the middle of speculation. That comes with the territory for a player of his caliber on a team that has spent plenty of time in the rumor mill. Still, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter doesn’t see a move coming together.
"Budda Baker? That guy's been such a stud. I don't know if Budda Baker's going to be traded, I don't think Arizona wants to move on from a guy who has meant so much to that franchise, who is such a baller," he said on The Pat McAfee Show.
Baker has backed up that status with another strong season. Through this point, he has 51 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble. He’s now in his tenth season, all with Arizona, and has lived through a long list of coaching and front office changes while remaining one of the franchise’s most recognizable players.
That loyalty has made him a fixture for Cardinals fans, but it hasn’t stopped the trade buzz from surfacing again. Baker addressed that reality in comments to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss last week, making clear where he stands.
"I'm here. I want to win.
I want to be here," he said. "And I'm just controlling what I can control, just taking it one week at a time, and hopefully when the deadline ends, I'll still be here.
If not, I mean, it's a business. I understand at the end of the day and that's it."
An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Baker is under contract through the 2027 season, though Spotrac notes Arizona has an out after this year that would leave the team with just $3 million in dead cap space.
Even if Baker stays put, the Cardinals are widely expected to be active sellers before the deadline. After moving off of Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona could also have Josh Sweat and Jacoby Brissett in play.
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One team to watch is Baltimore, where quarterback injuries have created an obvious need and made the market for a veteran passer more interesting. Brissett has become a name worth monitoring because of that fit, but for now it remains exactly that - speculation, with no deal confirmed and the Cardinals still sorting out what their own quarterback room looks like moving forward. [Read more 🡒]