Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker. Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cardinals keep defensive star with lucrative contract extension

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Dec 17, 2024 7:34 PM ET

Budda Baker's long-term future with the Arizona Cardinals has been a major question mark for more than a year given trade speculation and his pending status as an unrestricted free agent.

There is no longer a question.

He is a Cardinal for the foreseeable future.

Baker and the Cardinals agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract extension on Tuesday that includes $30 million in guarantees.

Cardinals All-Pro S Budda Baker has reached agreement on a three-year, $54 million contract extension, including $30M guaranteed. The $18M APY deal is the largest third contract for a safety in NFL history. The contract was negotiated by David Mulugheta of Athletes First. pic.twitter.com/7oSB992M4V
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 18, 2024

Baker has spent all eight years of his career in Arizona and isn't only one of the league's top safeties, but he has also become the backbone of the Cardinals defense and one of the team's biggest leaders.

He has not produced big turnover numbers this season and hasn't intercepted a pass since the 2022 season, but he remains a key part of the Cardinals' rebuild.

Even though the Cardinals' postseason chances have taken a big hit over the past couple of weeks, their 7-7 record and the fact they are still alive in the playoff race is a big step forward from their 4-13 record during the 2023 season.

With two more wins, they would clinch their first winning season since 2021 and only their second since the 2015 season.

Keeping the 28-year-old Baker is a big investment and certainly improves the short-term outlook for the defense and the team.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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