Getty Image / Kevin Abele
This offseason has been a busy one for the Arizona Cardinals.
They started the offseason by completely overhauling their coaching staff with a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator.
They also went out and got a new general manager.
In April, they made some of the draft’s biggest moves when they traded the 3rd overall pick to the Texans for pick 12 and a 2024 1st rounder that will likely end up in the top 5.
Then they moved back up to 6 to finally improve their offensive line after struggling to protect Kyler Murray for the first few years of his career.
More recently, they released DeAndre Hopkins 3 years after they acquired him from the Texans.
Over the course of the offseason, it seemed like there was the possibility that they could also end up losing Budda Baker.
The star safety wanted a raise to put him in the upper echelon of safety pay, but the Cardinals didn’t give him an offer he was interested in. He ended up requesting a trade.
Baker never got that trade, but now it looks like things are going to work out for him and the Cardinals.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals have agreed to give Baker a $2.4 million raise for this season and a raise next season as well.
Sources: #AZCardinals star Budda Baker received a raise prior to camp, getting $2.4M in bonuses and incentives this year including a $300K signing bonus. He also received a raise for next season.
AZ’s leader is back. pic.twitter.com/SlAJFwbHDz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 27, 2023
Retaining Baker won’t change much for the Cardinals for the upcoming season as they still just don’t have a very good roster and don’t know when they’re getting their QB back.
However, it’s a pretty big win for them if they want to try and make a playoff push in 2024.
Budda Baker is one of the NFL’s best safeties and the Cardinals can build their secondary around him.
It’s going to be a tough year for Arizona Cardinals fans, but they at least have one less thing to worry about now that Baker is sticking around.