Budda Baker Remains a Steady Force for Arizona Cardinals

As he approaches his tenth year in the NFL, Budda Baker, the former standout from the University of Washington, has navigated considerable uncertainty during his tenure with the Arizona Cardinals. With Mike LaFleur set to take the reins as the fifth head coach Baker has played under, the defensive star reflects on his journey that began under Bruce Arians in his rookie season. He has since experienced leadership changes with Steve Wilkes, Kliff Kingsbury, and now Jonathan Gannon.

Baker expressed optimism about LaFleur's leadership, stating, "I love LaFleur. He's doing a great job with the team, he corrals really good energy...just having a good time learning the system again." He also noted the positive adjustments made by defensive coordinator Nick Rallis during the offseason, suggesting an encouraging atmosphere within the team.

Throughout his career, Baker has consistently demonstrated excellence, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors, including two First Team accolades. His impressive statistics include 1,021 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 44 pass breakups, 8 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries, all achieved while remaining with the Cardinals.

Despite reflecting on his success, Baker maintains a humble outlook, stating, "For me, it's just a matter of each and every year it's just putting that work in to be better as a player, be better as a person and a teammate." He emphasizes the importance of approaching each season with the same determination he had as a rookie, feeling revitalized and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

While Baker's commitment to the Cardinals has been unwavering, the team's performance has been less stellar, having made the playoffs only once during his time. Competing in the fiercely competitive NFC West, which boasts last year's NFC Championship game participants, the Seahawks and Rams, Arizona faces a challenging path ahead. Given his substantial contract extension worth $54 million over three years signed in December 2024, it remains to be seen if Baker could become a target for trade discussions as the season progresses.