sportingnews
The Arizona Cardinals are enduring a tough season, and as the November trade deadline approaches, they have become a focal point in trade discussions. One player in particular has emerged as a prime trade asset: safety Budda Baker.
Baker has been a standout performer for the Cardinals, but a trade could benefit both the team and the player. In a recent CBS Sports feature highlighting five players who could use a change of scenery, Jordan Dajani identified Baker as a top candidate. Dajani emphasized that this is more of a wish list than a prediction, so a deal is not guaranteed.
Dajani noted that Baker has been a remarkable find for Arizona since being selected No. 36 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie and has now been named to eight Pro Bowls. Dajani also pointed out that Baker is among an elite group of players to reach 1,000 tackles before turning 30, joining the likes of Bobby Wagner, Roquan Smith, Luke Kuechly, Lavonte David, Ray Lewis, and Fred Warner.
Calling Baker a 'stud,' Dajani highlighted his performance in the Cardinals' surprising win over the Los Angeles Rams. In that game, Baker recorded six tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass defensed. Dajani added that Baker prevented at least one touchdown and was effective in blitzing the quarterback and stopping running backs, concluding, 'Someone come get him.'
Key Analysis
Dajani believes the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and Jacksonville Jaguars would be ideal landing spots for Baker. While Cardinals fans would be sad to see him go, a trade could ultimately be for the greater good of the franchise.
Originally reported by sportingnews.