The grind starts July 22. That is when the Arizona Cardinals report for training camp, kicking off the annual, brutal ritual of sorting out the depth chart and figuring out who actually belongs on an NFL field. Before the first whistle blows, we are dissecting every single player on this offseason roster. Next up: safety Budda Baker.
Baker is entering year ten. All of them in Arizona. Drafted in the second round back in 2017, he has quietly built a resume that demands respect. Eight Pro Bowls. Seven of those in a row. Throw in a couple of first-team All-Pro nods and two second-team selections, and you have the definition of consistency. Last year, he suited up for 16 games. He racked up 120 tackles, four tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and a pick. He still flies to the ball.
Let’s talk money. Baker signed a three-year, $54 million extension in 2024, keeping him locked down through 2027. He already pocketed a cool million-dollar roster bonus back in March. This year, his base salary sits north of $14.4 million, carrying a massive cap hit of over $19.2 million. Nearly $7.8 million of that cash is fully guaranteed.
His roster spot is safe. Obviously. Baker remains the undisputed soul of this defense. But he is 30 now. In NFL years, that is when the cliff starts looking very close. Can his body hold up under his violent style of play? He is still one of the most feared, respected hitters in the league, and a gold jacket is not out of the question if he keeps this up. For now, he is the standard in Arizona.
