Cardinals safety Budda Baker is set to enter the final year of his contract for the 2024 season. Baker, who secured a four-year, $59 million deal with the Cardinals in 2020, was seeking fair compensation last offseason. Although he requested a trade in April, Arizona opted to give him a pay raise rather than a new contract.
As he prepares for his eighth NFL season, Baker is concentrating on the aspects he can control. He stated, “I’m just focusing on what I can control—having a great season both personally and as a team, winning games, and letting everything else fall into place. My main focus is on playing well and contributing to the team’s success.”
At 28, Baker is currently the seventh highest-paid safety with an average salary of $14.1 million per year. If no contract extension is reached, he will enter free agency in 2025. Since 2017, Baker has been a standout safety with seven interceptions, 34 passes defended, 7.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and 737 tackles.
In 2023, Baker earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod despite the Cardinals finishing with a 4-13 record. With key additions like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Sean Murphy-Bunting, along with draft picks Darius Robinson and Max Melton, the team is looking forward to improvements this season.
Baker has been a prominent leader at training camp, and head coach Jonathan Gannon sees him as a crucial player for the upcoming year, praising him as both an exceptional person and player.
