Budda Baker Signs $59 Million Extension With Cardinals, Becomes Now NFL's Highest-Paid Safety
Budda Baker has emerged as one of the NFL's top safeties, and the Arizona Cardinals are rewarding him for it.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cardinals have signed Baker to a four-year contract extension worth $59 million. The $14.75 million average annual value makes him the highest-paid safety in league history, per Schefter.
Baker was drafted in the second round - 36th overall - by the Cardinals in 2017. A two-time Pro Bowler, Baker earned First-Team All-Pro honors in his 2017 rookie season.
Through his first three NFL seasons, Baker had 14 passes defended, four forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks and 323 combined tackles.
Per Spotrac.com, Baker's $59 million deal is the third richest ever for a safety. Landon Collins of the Washington Football Team holds the record (six years, $84 million) followed by Kevin Byard of the Tennessee Titans (five years, $70.5 million).
Baker's deal barely tops the four-year, $58.4 million extension that Eddie Jackson signed with the Chicago Bears in January. Before Baker signed his contract, Jackson's $14.6 million average annual value was tops among all safeties. Byard ($14.1 million), Collins ($14 million) and Tyrann Mathieu of the Kansas City Chiefs ($14 million) aren't far behind.
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The Cardinals defense isn't lacking in talent, but it surprisingly underachieved in 2019 despite strong play from Baker, superstar pass rusher Chandler Jones and the presence of Pro Bowl corner Patrick Peterson.
They finished 28th in scoring defense season, allowing 27.6 points per game. But the Cardinals added the versatile Clemson star Isaiah Simmons in the draft (taking him eighth overall), and they signed veterans De'Vondre Campbell and Jordan Phillips in free agency, hoping to bolster the unit.
Arizona can expect a turnaround on defense with the new additions joining a star-studded defense anchored by Baker, Jones and Peterson. And if second-year quarterback Kyler Murray can take his game to a Pro Bowl level in 2020, the Cardinals could emerge as a playoff contending team.
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