Budda Baker‘s day was memorable on Wednesday, the safety signing both a three-year contract extension with the Cardinals and finding out he was one of eight finalists for the NFL’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship award.
But as a day, it was always going to be cherished by the veteran anyway.
Among Baker’s many tattoos is his first, a right shoulder image he got in high school that states “Each Day Is Not Promised.” At the time, his older brother – who was later murdered – was in prison. Baker understood through his brother’s predicament that doing the right thing and being a good person mattered.
So that’s what he tries to do in life, and certainly as a football player. Head down and respecting the grind, as he likes to say. Baker has a new deal that guarantees him $30 million and runs through the 2027 season, but there are games to play, and as he noted, the Panthers await Sunday and “I still gotta watch what Bryce Young likes to do in the quick game.”
There was a point last year when Baker’s future in Arizona was in question, the 2017 second-round pick maybe looking to play elsewhere. Speculation about the Cardinals potentially trading Baker lingered.
But all the time, Baker was becoming tighter with coach Jonathan Gannon and the plan Gannon had in place. GM Monti Ossenfort never tipped his hand about what he was thinking about Baker, although Baker himself shot down the idea before the trade deadline he would be dealt.
Now, with three games left in the regular season and the future locked down, the question of Baker now isn’t free agency but instead what it would mean if he could play his entire career for one franchise.
“Not a lot of players can say they have done that,” Baker said. “At the end of the day I want to win and I’m trying to be that building block in helping the Arizona Cardinals win. That’s what I’ve stuck my mind to.”
The Cardinals have extended free-agents-to-be linebacker Zaven Collins, center Hjalte Froholdt, running back James Conner and now Baker since the beginning of training camp. The foundation Ossenfort wanted to build has become more in focus.
“I think we’re on the right track having the young guys play longer here, building through the draft, and having guys that are invested in the organization, growing up and playing and hopefully sticking here and keeping that trend going,” quarterback Kyler Murray said.
Baker needs six tackles to set a career-high, having piled up 142 so far this season. He smiled when noting the scheme of defensive coordinator Nick Rallis was a reason to want to stay, with the ability to move around and confuse the defense at safety.
