Tag: Budda Baker

Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Budda Baker, Cards agree to 3-year, $54M extension

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Six-time Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker, who ranks second in the NFL in tackles this season, agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday night.

The 28-year-old veteran, who is in his eighth season with Arizona, could have been a free agent this coming offseason, sparking speculation that the Cardinals might trade him.

The deal would include $30 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network and ESPN. The two-time All-Pro reportedly will be the NFL’s third- or fourth-highest paid safety in terms of average annual salary.

Arizona enters the weekend at 7-7, one game behind the NFC West co-leaders, the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals are also ninth in the NFC but mathematically alive for a wild-card berth.

The Cardinals travel to face the 3-11 Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and Baker, who has 142 tackles this season, is just five shy of his career high with three games left in the regular season. Only Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (144) has more tackles this season.

Baker, known as a strong locker room figure, has two sacks and three passes defensed this year. In 119 career games (109 starts), he has compiled 879 tackles, 9.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 37 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

In 2020, Baker signed a four-year, $59 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid safety at the time.

–Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker will miss a minimum of four games after the team placed him on injured reserve on Monday.

Report: Cardinals to activate S Budda Baker (hamstring) from injured reserve

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals will activate safety Budda Baker and he is expected to play Sunday against the host Seattle Seahawks, the NFL Network reported Saturday.

Baker has been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. He was limited in practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Baker, 27, suffered a severe hamstring injury in the Cardinals’ season opener against Washington. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro had missed just five games since being drafted by the Cardinals in 2017, including the final two games of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury.

He has 655 tackles, seven interceptions and 7.5 sacks in 94 games (84 starts), including just one game this season when he made five tackles.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks on prior to the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals designate Kyler Murray (ACL) for return

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyler Murray finally is set to play football, at least on the practice field.

The Arizona Cardinals designated their $230.5 million quarterback for return from the PUP list, activating his 21-day practice window. The club has three weeks to activate Murray or it must shut him down for the rest of the season.

The Cardinals also designated star safety Budda Baker for a return to practice. He’s been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon announced that both would be practicing Wednesday.

“Excited to see those guys get out there and practice and look forward to a great day prepping for Seattle,” Gannon said.

The Cardinals (1-5) visit the Seahawks (3-2) on Sunday.

It’s unclear when Murray will return to game action. The Cardinals acquired Josh Dobbs on Aug. 25 to be QB1 in Murray’s stead.

The Cardinals lost Murray to a torn ACL in his right knee on Dec. 12. He waited until after the new year to have surgery.

Murray, 26, signed a five-year, $230.5 million deal before the 2022 season. He is 25-31-1 as a starter, having thrown for 13,848 yards and 84 touchdowns against 41 interceptions.

Baker, 27, sustained a severe hamstring injury in the Cardinals’ season opener against Washington. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro had missed just five games since being drafted by the Cardinals in 2017, including the final two games of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury.

–Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) runs out on to the field to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Dec. 25, 2022. Nfl Tampa Bay At Cardinals Budda Baker

Report: Cards SS Budda Baker can earn $2.4M in bonuses

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker has a chance to earn up to $2.4 million in bonuses this season, NFL Network reported Thursday.

The incentives are part of a revised contract with the five-time Pro Bowl selection that also includes a $300,000 signing bonus and a raise for next season, per the report.

Baker was seeking a long-term extension and requested a trade during the offseason. He has two years remaining on a four-year, $59 million deal signed in 2020.

Baker, 27, was a second-round pick in 2017. He has 650 career tackles with 7.5 sacks and seven interceptions in 93 games (83 starts) over six seasons, all with Arizona.

–Field Level Media

Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Cardinals 5-time Pro Bowler Budda Baker requests trade

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Amid the Arizona Cardinals reportedly exploring the future of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, as well as mulling potential trades of their No. 3 overall pick in this month’s draft, add another high-priority item to the front office’s to-do list.

Decide what to do about Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker, who requested a trade from the team, per multiple reports Friday.

The star defensive back, still in the prime of his career at 27, has two years remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2020. Though the final two seasons are not guaranteed, he is due $13.1 million in 2023 and $14.2 million the following season.

Baker had posted a mysterious video tweet Thursday showing NBA icon Michael Jordan alluding to taking things personally. The Cardinals defender also deleted references to the team from his Twitter profile.

On Friday after reports of his trade demand surfaced, Baker addressed his home fan base by tweeting, “Love you cardinal fans!!!”

Since being drafted by Arizona in the second round (No. 36 overall) out of Washington in 2017, Baker has been the heart and soul of the defense. He has posted over 100 tackles in four of his six seasons and made the Pro Bowl five times, while being named first-team All-Pro twice (2017 and 2020).

No defensive back in the league has more tackles than Baker since he entered the league.

Despite missing Arizona’s final two games last season because of a fractured shoulder he suffered in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baker sported a team-high 111 tackles while adding two interceptions and seven passes defended.

In his six seasons, Baker has produced 650 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 7 1/2 sacks in 93 games (83 starts).

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) reacts to his interception in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals place S Budda Baker, DL Trysten Hill on IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals placed safety Budda Baker and defensive lineman Trysten Hill on injured reserve Wednesday.

Baker sustained a shoulder injury during Arizona’s 19-16 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night. He did not exit the game and played every defensive snap, however.

Hill injured his knee in the same game for the Cardinals (4-11), who have lost five in a row and are eliminated from postseason contention.

Named to his fifth Pro Bowl this season, Baker recorded a team-leading 111 tackles to go along with two interceptions and a forced fumble in 15 games (all starts).

Baker, 26, has totaled 650 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven interceptions, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 93 career games (83 starts) with the Cardinals.

Hill, 24, has 12 tackles and one sack in 13 games (zero starts) split between the Dallas Cowboys and Cardinals this season. He was waived by Dallas on Nov. 1 and claimed by Arizona the following day.

Hill has 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 31 career games (five starts) with the Cowboys and Cardinals.

Also on Wednesday, wide receiver Pharoh Cooper and defensive lineman Manny Jones were promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) runs out on to the field to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona Republic Nfl Tampa Bay At Cardinals

Report: Cardinals S Budda Baker done for season with fractured shoulder

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker fractured his shoulder during Sunday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is done for the rest of the season, NFL Network reported Monday.

Baker, 26, did not exit the loss to the Bucs, playing every defensive snap.

Baker finishes the season with 111 tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions in 15 starts. He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl.

Baker has seven interceptions, 7.5 sacks and 34 passes defensed in 93 career games (83 starts) for the Cardinals, who selected him in the second round of the 2017 draft.

Arizona (4-11) has two games remaining this season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) tackles Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (86) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals’ Budda Baker wheeled off field after helmet-to-helmet hit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker was taken off the field on a stretcher in the third quarter of Monday’s NFC wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams at Inglewood, Calif.

With 1:45 remaining in the third quarter, Baker lowered his head to make an open-field tackle on Rams running back Cam Akers, who also lowered his head. After the players’ helmets collided on the play, Baker did not get up from the turf and had limited movement as players gathered around him.

The fifth-year player, whom the Cardinals drafted in the second round in 2017, briefly raised his right hand to acknowledge the crowd before he was taken off the field.

The Cardinals announced about midway through the fourth quarter that Baker was being evaluated for a concussion and had movement in all of his extremities.

The Rams were in control with a 28-8 lead at the time of Baker’s injury. The 26-year-old began the night with 98 tackles and three interceptions this season and has 539 tackles with five interceptions in 78 career games (68 starts) with the Cardinals.

Baker has been named to the Pro Bowl four times, including this season, and has been an All-Pro selection two times.

–Field Level Media

September 13, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals strong safety Budda Baker (32) during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals S Baker returns after thumb surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

All-Pro safety Budda Baker will return from thumb surgery this week, Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday.

Baker played in the Cardinals’ Week 3 loss to Detroit with his right thumb heavily bandaged, then missed Sunday’s loss to Carolina following an operation to repair a torn ligament earlier in the week.

Kingsbury said Baker will be on the field Sunday when the Cardinals (2-2) face the New York Jets (0-4) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“Budda being back this week will definitely make us all feel better,” Kingsbury said, per ESPN. “I mean, he’s one of the best players in the league and brings a lot of things on and off the field to our locker room.”

A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2017, 2019) and a first-team All-Pro in 2017, Baker has recorded 28 tackles in three games this season. He had 15 in the season-opening win at San Francisco.

The 2017 second-round pick has 351 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 15 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 49 career games (39 starts).

–Field Level Media