During the Cardinals’ 2023 offseason, Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker requested a trade that lasted for months. Eventually, a short-term resolution to his contract status was reached, but he remains a pending free agent.
As part of the deal made last summer, Baker’s 2023 earnings were increased through incentives, bringing his salary to $14.6 million this season with a cap hit just over $19 million. Baker, 28, hopes to stay with the team long-term.
Having been with the Cardinals for seven years, Baker expressed his desire to continue with the team he was drafted by, despite changes in the general manager and head coach. He believes his sustained high performance and work ethic demonstrate his value, even as the team undergoes its fourth coaching staff since his arrival.
Baker signed a four-year, $59 million contract in 2020, and despite a revised agreement lowering his average annual value to $14.1 million, he remains one of the highest-paid safeties. The position has recently seen a financial downturn, with several key players released before free agency. Despite missing five games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, Baker earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and sixth overall, which could strengthen his position in future contract negotiations.
In 2024, Baker is expected to continue starting alongside Jalen Thompson. Their performance will be crucial to Arizona’s defensive success. The team also drafted Dadrion Taylor-Demerson as a developmental option at safety and/or slot, whose rookie performance will be noteworthy.
With a new general manager, Monti Ossenfort, and head coach, Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals are in a rebuilding phase. Improving on last season’s 4-13 record will be a goal for 2024, and a healthy, productive season from Baker could be vital as he approaches what might be his final season in Arizona.
Baker emphasized his commitment to treating every season like a contract year, focusing on controlling his performance and letting everything else fall into place.
