Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker has officially requested a trade from the team that drafted him.
While safeties may not carry the value of a star quarterback or pass rusher, Baker is one of the best at his position in the league and could give a championship-caliber team a major shot of adrenaline.
It remains to be seen if the Cardinals would actually entertain the idea of trading Baker, but we could imagine there would be a good number of NFL teams that would have interest in his talents.
Let’s take a look at who some of those teams could be.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles lost safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps in free agency, and the team could use additional help at the position.
Baker would immediately slot in as a starter in Philly’s defense and help the team battle for another NFC title.
The team has two first-round picks this year and could part ways with one of those to acquire Baker. They could also send safety K’Von Wallace back to Arizona to give the Cardinals additional options at the position.
New Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon would know plenty about Wallace after coaching him as his defensive coordinator.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Philadelphia sends a 2023 first-round pick (No. 31) and safety K’Von Wallace to Arizona for Baker.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals took a big hit at the safety position in free agency, losing both Jessie Bates III and Von Bell to the NFC South.
Trading for Baker would be a huge boost for Cincy’s defense as it tries to recalibrate in the secondary.
The Bengals could afford parting ways with a member of its defensive line to acquire Baker along with its 2023 first-round pick, as the Cardinals need more pass rushers. Let’s say Arizona snags defensive end Cameron Sample as part of the move.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Cincinnati trades a 2023 first-round pick and Sample to Arizona for Baker.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are entering a new phase with the emergence of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and putting the best foot forth on defense will be vital for Jacksonville.
Trading for Baker would only make the Jags that much formidable in the AFC, and they’ve got the ammo to pull off such a trade.
Let’s say Jacksonville sends their 2023 first-round pick and pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, giving the latter a fresh start after his 2020 first-round draft selection.
The Jaguars get a promising piece for now, and the Cardinals get to work on reclaiming Chaisson.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Jacksonville sends a 2023 first-round pick and Chaisson to Arizona for Baker.
Atlanta Falcons
If the Falcons really want to complete their 2023 defensive overhaul, making a blockbuster trade for Baker would cement it.
Atlanta could send promising young safety Richie Grant to Arizona as part of the transaction, as well as a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 third-round pick.
This would be the one package that Arizona wouldn’t get a first-round pick in, but they would get an immediate starter in Grant and a higher draft pick for next year.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Atlanta sends a 2023 second-round pick, a 2024 third-round pick and Grant to Arizona for Baker.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers make this list because they have a very clear need at safety that Baker could fill and the cap space to make this deal work.
That’s not mentioning the trade compensation that they could acquire in a trade involving quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
Life after Rodgers won’t be as easy for the Packers, but adding a player like Baker to the team’s secondary would give Green Bay’s defense a major step up.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Green Bay sends a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick to Arizona for Baker.
