The Arizona Cardinals find themselves in a situation they are familiar with. One of their star players has requested a trade because he isn’t getting a contract extension yet.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson requested one before and so did linebacker Chandler Jones.
This time, with two years remaining on his contract, safety Budda Baker wants to be traded.
Like the aforementioned players before him, the Cardinals do not want to trade him.
NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport gave this insight when appearing on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday.
“I do not believe the Cardinals want to trade him at all, which is what they told him,” Rapoport said. “‘We don’t want to trade you. We plan to keep you.'”
Baker is a team leader. He is the heart and soul of the defense. He is one of the best players on the team and also one of the most popular players on the team.
But it comes to wanting a new deal.
Rapoport learned of the request in the last few days before it was reported Friday evening, “but it has quietly been a reality for Arizona for much longer.”
“I don’t believe they want to trade him at all,” he said.
He also said it isn’t that the Cardinals don’t want to give him a new deal. General manager Monti Ossenfort doesn’t want to set the precedent of giving a star player a new deal with two years left on his contract.
“If he’s giving a star player a new deal with two years left, is every star player going to want a new deal with two years left,” he said. “That is kind of what plays into it.”
If a deal is to be made, it would have to happen by the draft.
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