ESPN: Cardinals' Budda Baker Eyes Contract to Be No. 1 Safety; Eagles Linked to Trade

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is reportedly looking to both play for a winning team and become one of the highest-paid players at his position in the NFL.

Appearing Saturday on SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported on Baker's desires and added that sources view the Philadelphia Eagles as a potential landing spot if they can find a way to make the money work:

"This is a player, I'm told, who wants to win. He's in a situation in Arizona where they're clearly rebuilding and not going to be very good this year. And he's got two years left at non-guaranteed money on his original contract that he signed with the team about three years ago. So, that has to give. This is an elite player, $27 million, around two years, so he would like that reworked, either with a stronger guarantee structure or something that makes him the highest paid, or among the highest paid, safety in the league. So, it appears right now the Cardinals are not willing to do that.

"And so, this could heat up closer to the draft. This is a premium player that a lot of teams would love to get their hands on. People I've talked to around the league are at least looking to Philadelphia because they have a need at safety with C.J. Gardner-Johnson leaving in free agency, but my understanding is they don't have a lot of money to spend because they signed other players, so it could be tough. But there will be a market for Budda Baker, no doubt about it."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Friday that the five-time Pro Bowler requested a trade out of Arizona because the Cards were unwilling to make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL. Baker has spent his entire six-year NFL career with the Cards.

Arizona signed Baker to a four-year, $59 million contract extension in 2020, and he is set to make over $13 million in 2023.

The Cardinals have a club option on Baker at $14.2 million in 2024, meaning he technically could become a free agent at the end of the upcoming season, although it is unlikely the Cards would let him become a free agent and leave for nothing in return.

Per Spotrac, Baker is the seventh-highest-paid safety in the NFL in terms of average annual value, behind Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers, Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jamal Adams of the Seattle Seahawks, Jessie Bates III of the Atlanta Falcons, Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos.

Given all the 27-year-old has accomplished in his NFL career thus far, a strong argument can be made that he deserves to be in the conversation for the league's highest-paid safety.

While Baker has just seven career interceptions, he has finished with 100 or more tackles in four of the past five seasons. He has also forced six fumbles, recovered five and recorded 7.5 sacks in his career.

In addition to his five Pro Bowls, Baker is a two-time first-team All-Pro, although one of them was as a special teamer during his rookie year.

Aside from money, if winning is Baker's greatest motivation, then Arizona may not be the spot for him in 2023 and beyond.

The Cardinals are shaping up to perhaps be the worst team in the NFL next season, especially if quarterback Kyler Murray isn't ready for the start of the campaign after tearing his ACL late in 2022.

Philadelphia would give Baker a huge opportunity to go deep in the playoffs and win a championship after reaching the Super Bowl last season, but finding the space to make Baker one of the highest-paid safeties in the league could prove difficult.

The Eagles had to let safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson walk in free agency, and they have spent a great deal of money retaining other members of their secondary, including cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry.

Even if the Eagles can't make it work, Baker should have a fairly robust market on the trade front, provided the Cardinals are unwilling to give him the raise he reportedly desires.