The Cardinals’ rocky start has turned Budda Baker into one of the names to watch as the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline creeps closer.
Arizona sits at 1-4 under rookie coach Mike LaFleur, and the losses are piling up fast. The situation got even tougher with Jeremiyah Love ruled out for Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, while defensive coordinator Nick Rallis was left to face the reality of another rough afternoon looming for a Budda Baker-led defense.
Baker, the eight-time Pro Bowl safety, has still been doing his part. He piled up 11 tackles and a sack against the Lions, one of the few positive notes in a game that otherwise fit the mood at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. But despite that effort, the chatter around him is getting louder.
NFL insider Ari Meirov recently raised the possibility that Baker could be on the move, and he framed it as a real coin-flip type of situation. “If I gave you a percentage chance of Budda Baker getting traded, who has no guaranteed money, what would you say?” Meirov asked to co-host Johnny Venerable, who said he thinks Baker's “time is up” with LaFleur's Cardinals.
Meirov then laid out one possible path for Arizona: “I think the Cardinals will give him an option, like, ‘Hey, the Chicago Bears…I'm just throwin' a team out there, want you to come play for their team, or Minnesota…Do you want to go?' And if he says yes, then you move him.”
He also pointed to Kevin Byard’s trade from the Tennessee Titans as a comparison, saying Tennessee gave Byard the choice to be dealt ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.
Drafted by Arizona in the second round in 2017, Baker has spent his career with the Cardinals. Even so, the team’s current reality looks bleak after five games and just one win. The offense hasn’t provided much help, and the club has gotten little back after its long-term signing of receiver Michael Wilson, who was crushed by the team’s trade of Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Texans.
With Arizona’s season going sideways, a fire sale is starting to feel possible. If that happens, Baker could be one of the biggest names on the move. He has held up well for the Cardinals, but the signs now point to a possible split.
In Other News...
Cardinals Fans Have Every Reason To Debate This NFL Punishment
The NFL added another point of frustration for a Cardinals team trying to find its footing, fining tight end Elijah Higgins for unnecessary use of the helmet on a play last week. It was a hefty penalty, and one that stood out in a week when the league handed out 23 fines across the NFL. Higgins has been a modest but useful part of Arizonas passing game through the first five weeks, with eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
For Cardinals fans, the debate is less about the dollars and more about where the line gets drawn on contact in a physical league. Higgins fine ranked among the largest in that weeks batch of punishments, which only makes the scrutiny sharper for a player who is still carving out his role in the offense. It leaves Arizona with yet another reminder that even routine-looking plays can carry real consequences long after the whistle blows. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Bigger Week 6 Problem Than Just The Rams
The Cardinals have spent the build-up to Week 6 shuffling their roster and trying to keep enough bodies available for a trip to SoFi Stadium, where theyll face the Rams while carrying a four-game losing streak. Several players have already been ruled out or listed as questionable, and the uncertainty has added another layer to a week that already feels pivotal for Arizona as it tries to steady itself and get back on track.
Mike LaFleur said the team is handling those calls on a game-by-game basis, with the focus squarely on putting the best possible group on the field Sunday rather than reacting with sweeping changes. Budda Baker remains one of the more notable names in that mix, while Zaven Collins and Blake Gillikin also did not get the kind of weekend bump the Cardinals were hoping for, leaving Arizona with a few lingering questions as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Know What Makes This Rams Matchup Feel Different
The Week 6 meeting with the Rams carries a little extra edge for the Cardinals, even if both sideline leaders are trying to keep the spotlight on the matchup itself. Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur is preparing to see Sean McVay from the other side for the first time since working on his staff, which adds a layer of familiarity to a game that already has plenty of familiarity built in.
For Cardinals fans, though, the bigger backdrop is the recent history in this rivalry. Los Angeles has owned the series for years, and Arizona has spent plenty of Sundays trying to flip that script. With LaFleur now leading the Cardinals and McVay still setting the tone in Los Angeles, this one feels a little more personal than your usual NFC West game. [Read more 🡒]