The Patriots already have one of the NFL’s deepest and most dangerous defensive backfields, but that kind of strength can always get stronger. Christian Gonzalez has already established himself as a bona fide superstar, Carlton Davis validated New England’s three-year free-agent investment, and Marcus Jones remains one of the league’s best slot corners. Add in Kevin Byard, who is set to step in for Jaylinn Hawkins after leading the league in interceptions and earning his third All-Pro nod, plus Craig Woodson coming off a tremendous rookie season, and the top end of this group looks loaded.
The question is what comes after that. New England does have depth names in the mix - Kindle Vildor, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty, Dell Pettus and Mike Brown among them - but the proven production drops off quickly. That’s why a midseason swing for a player like Budda Baker makes so much sense.
In a recent FanSided piece, Justin Carter suggested the Cardinals safety could be available in-season. Arizona is not expected to be a winning team in 2026, even with young talent such as Jeremiyah Love, Marvin Harrison Jr., Walter Nolen and Will Johnson on the roster.
Trey McBride is a superstar at tight end, but on defense, Baker is the clear headliner. A four-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, the former Washington Husky has been a franchise icon since the Cardinals drafted him in 2017.
At 30, though, the timing may be right for both sides to move on while Arizona can still get something back.
For the Patriots, Baker would bring something the current group doesn’t fully have: versatility. Gonzalez and Davis both missed time last season, which forced the team to lean on Alex Austin and Woods.
At safety, the picture was cleaner from an injury standpoint, but asking Pettus or Brenden Schooler to handle anything beyond a handful of defensive snaps would be a dangerous bet. Baker would give New England another proven piece who could steady the back end when the season tightens up.
As for the price, Baker probably wouldn’t come cheap, but he also shouldn’t be a massive haul because of his age and position. The Cardinals’ selection of Carson Beck, along with Jacoby Brissett’s strong finish, suggests new head coach Mike LaFleur may try to stay competitive early before a larger reset arrives. That makes a midseason deal feel more realistic than a move now.
A trade framework already exists. Back in January, Baker was linked to the Patriots in a mock deal, with Kevin Byard’s move from the Titans to the Eagles serving as the comparison.
Byard, then 30 and already a two-time First-Team All-Pro, was dealt midseason for Terrell Edmunds plus fifth- and sixth-round picks. A similar structure for Baker could make sense, and a fourth-round pick plus a player would seem reasonable given the more than $16 million a team would need to absorb several weeks into the season.
If New England could land an eight-time Pro Bowler to deepen an already strong defense, the payoff could be real when the games get heavy late in the year. Baker is under contract through the end of 2027, which also gives the Patriots a chance to build with him in mind beyond this season.
He’s a terrific player, and the idea of him wearing a Patriots uniform before the trade deadline is one fans should absolutely have on their radar.
In Other News...
Patriots May Have No Choice But To Make This Tight End Trade
The Patriots went into the offseason knowing tight end was a position they had to address, and the plan briefly looked manageable after they added Eli Raridon for depth. Julian Hills injury changed the equation, though, and it left New England in the market for a young veteran who could help sooner rather than later as the roster takes shape after the Super Bowl loss.
One possible path is a trade, especially if a tight end sitting behind a star on another depth chart becomes available. The Raiders have reasons to listen, and New England has the kind of draft capital and young receiver talent that could help grease a deal, but the real question is whether the Patriots are willing to pay enough to get the kind of player they need at a spot that suddenly feels a lot more urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Will Campbell Just Answered A Huge Patriots Fear
Will Campbell spent the offseason around some of the leagues better offensive linemen, working with Lane Johnson, Dion Dawkins and Tyler Guyton as he tries to sharpen the parts of his game that were exposed during a rocky rookie year. For a Patriots team that used the No. 4 overall pick on him, the focus has been on helping Campbell settle in, clean up the rough edges and look more like the player they believed they were getting when they made him their left tackle of the future.
The bigger backdrop is what happened in Super Bowl LX, where Campbells performance only added to the scrutiny that had started building late in the season. There had been plenty of noise about whether his best long-term fit might be somewhere else on the line, but New England has made clear it views him as a tackle and expects him to keep working on the blindside job the Patriots drafted him to handle. [Read more 🡒]
CBS Just Gave Drake Maye Another Patriots Fans Wont Forget
CBS Sports latest quarterback rankings gave Drake Maye a respectable but still eye-catching spot in the middle of the pack, placing the Patriots young passer 16th among NFL starters and in the outlets Borderline Stars tier. For a player who led the league in completion percentage and passer rating while helping push New England to the Super Bowl, it is a reminder that the national conversation has not quite caught up to the production.
The comparison at the top of the list only sharpens the debate, with Matthew Stafford landing above Maye despite the Patriots quarterbacks standout season. CBS pointed to the difference in surrounding conditions, noting Maye took more sacks and worked with a less effective receiving corps than Stafford did, and that context will matter again as New England keeps trying to build a more complete offense around him. [Read more 🡒]