Budda Baker, Cardinals Contract Issue Remains Top NFL Storyline
We've reached the dead zone of the NFL offseason, as we're still slightly over a month away from the Arizona Cardinals beginning training camp at State Farm Stadium.
The Cardinals found themselves at the top of storylines throughout much of the offseason, but such is life when you go through a massive initial rebuild and the new regime (under GM Monti Ossenfort and HC Jonathan Gannon) looks to start from square one.
Part of the rebuilding process involves some ugly results before things can truly get better, yet Cardinals fans were in for a different shake up when Budda Baker went public with his trade request earlier in the offseason.
Baker reportedly demanded to be made the highest-paid safety in the league if he wasn't going to be traded.
That led to a lot of doomsday trade scenarios for Cardinals fans that have already seen some greatly talented players depart in the last few years. Losing Baker would have hurt on a different level.
Yet fast-forward to present day, where the read on Baker-Arizona's situation feels much better. Baker was in the building for voluntary minicamp and is expected to be there at training camp.
As of now, the Cardinals are still working through contract negotiations with Baker.
"He's a big part of this team. ... I think we're going to continue to keep our discussions and line of communication open, which Budda's been great. His representation's been great," Ossenfort said roughly two weeks ago.
"We're going to get through this week here and see where we're at."
The Cardinals have finished minicamp and Baker still doesn't have a new deal, though he's been in constant communication with players and coaches through the entire process. It sure feels like he'll remain the front office will take care of him and Baker will remain in Arizona.
Yet until then, a question mark will hang over the situation until both sides can come to an agreement. Bleacher Report listed Baker's contract situation with the Cardinals as one of the biggest decisions left to make before NFL training camps begin:
"Baker has two years remaining on his contract, and he's likely to hold more trade value with two years left rather than one. Also, Arizona could save $13.1 million off the 2023 cap by trading him, now that June 1 has passed," wrote Kristopher Knox.
"If the Cardinals are secretly thinking of tanking for one of the top prospects in the 2024 draft—and while teams won't publicly admit it, the practice occurs—then trading Baker before the in-season deadline would make a whole lot of sense.
"The problem with waiting is that if Baker were to suffer an injury early in the season or in camp, it could tank his trade value dramatically—and offseason injuries do happen. Jets safety Chuck Clark, for example, recently had a torn ACL confirmed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"That injury risk is also why a holdout could occur if Baker is still on the roster but doesn't have his new deal. He reported to mandatory minicamp but didn't participate in practices, and he could take a similar stance in August.
"In the coming day, Arizona must figure out if it's open to moving Baker, willing to pay him or willing to roll dice and hope he reports and stays healthy through camp."
If Baker doesn't have a new deal by training camp, he'll likely take the "hold-in" approach where he's present but won't participate in physical team activities.
It feels like it will be a long summer until Baker and the Cardinals can find a middle ground.
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