GLENDALE — Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is in full form right now.
With his nine tackles in Sunday’s 31-6 win over the New York Jets, the veteran safety is already up to 100 on the year to go along with a sack, seven tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a quarterback hit.
For a lot of NFL defenders, that’s a full season of work to be proud of.
For Baker, it’s 10 weeks.
“I just control what I can control, don’t pay attention to any of the stats, and by the time it’s said and done, we will see what it looks like,” Baker said after Sunday’s win over New York.
“I’m just controlling what I can control. It’s definitely cool to hit 100 tackles in Week 10. Have a bye Week, going to rest these shoulders. I’ll be ready come next week.”
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It’s not unusual for Baker to hit the century mark for tackles in a given season. Hell, he already had four heading into this year and was two shy at another in 2021.
But it’s how he’s doing it that deserves some major recognition.
In addition to pacing all active defensive backs in 100-tackle seasons with five, he’s the only Cardinal ever to record 100 tackles through Week 10.
If his pace continues, Baker will reach 170 tackles by season’s end, 23 more than his career mark of 147 set in 2019. Much like running back James Conner, some would argue Baker is getting better as the years tack on.
In heat-seeking-missile fashion, he’s flying around the field, blowing up opposing runs and making quarterbacks think twice in the pass game. For his team, he’s setting the tone in the violence and motor departments.
Even with a mountain of injuries, Arizona has found another gear defensively in Year 2 under coordinator Nick Rallis, especially of late. Just look at the unit’s touchdown-less streak of 12 quarters at home and the complementary football that has been on display across the Cardinals’ current four-game win streak.
Baker has been a major force in that accomplishment.
“He’s one of our elite players,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said after Week 10’s win over the Jets. “I know everyone sees what he does on Sundays. I see what the guy does on Monday through Saturdays and like I’ve said, you can’t put a price tag on it.
“He is just a complete captain. He’s a warrior in all the things that means. I’m so glad we have him.”
Now, it’s time for the harsh reality.
We very well could be seeing Baker’s final stretch as a Cardinal due to his current contract situation and impending free agency.
While there’s the possibility of a midseason extension coming Baker’s way, it’s possible the veteran will hit the open market this offseason.
If that happens, there’s bound to be more than a few teams intrigued with bringing in a player of Baker’s caliber. That screams bidding war and added dollar signs.
The Cardinals are going to have tough decisions this offseason. Baker isn’t the only big name to watch, with fellow captains Conner and Kyzir White among soon-to-be free agents.
Not too far down the road, tight end Trey McBride is going to need a new deal, too, after his rookie contract expires following the 2025 season. Given his current standing as one of the NFL’s top tight ends, that’s not expected to come at a bargain.
When it comes to the 29-year-old Baker, though, the answer seems all but written on the wall.
Even if he costs a little more than his current $14.1 million average, which OverTheCap currently ranks as seventh among NFL safeties, that should be a price tag general manager Monti Ossenfort is willing to pay on a two- or three-year deal.
Everyone talks about going out and getting that next big fish this offseason. A proven pass rusher is the first to come to mind.
But what about keeping the big fish you already have in Baker? That doesn’t get talked about enough.