By james art ARIZONA — Trade speculation surrounding Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker will continue to increase as the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline creeps closer.
Baker is no stranger to trade talks — he requested a trade in the 2023 offseason in hopes of getting another lucrative deal.
The Cardinals reworked some things in Baker’s contract to give more guaranteed money, though Baker is still scheduled to be a free agent after this season — and since the Cardinals aren’t exactly posing as contenders, Baker is a popular name in the trade buzz.
Can a move happen? And who would be a good fit for Baker?
ESPN’s Ben Solak on why the New York Jets make sense for Baker as a trade partner:
“Which player should they target? Cardinals safety Budda Baker. If you’re all-in, you’re all-in. Baker is a six-time Pro Bowler in the final year of his deal, and the Cardinals are clearly willing to listen to offers for him. Baker is the aggressive safety that is a perfect fit for Jeff Ulbrich’s defense.
Recently, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon talked about a possible move at the deadline.
“(General manager) Monty (Ossenforth) is doing everything he can to make our team better, so I believe in that. We’re on the same page about what’s going on there. I’m excited about those guys getting opportunities this week and moving forward,” Gannon told reporters.
“We have conversations every day about everything.”
If the Cardinals feel the need to be sellers at the deadline, Baker is undoubtedly the top name to watch.
With the Jets looking to save their season, it would make sense to watch New York push even more chips toward the mid-table and grab a player to bolster their defensive side of the ball.
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