Cardinals Budda Baker Is About To Get The Bag, Making Him The Highest Paid Safety In The NFL

The Arizona Cardinals are making 24-year-old, two-time, Pro-Bowl selection Budda Baker the highest-paid safety in the NFL history. Sources tell ESPN Baker is set to receive a four-year, $59 million contract extension ($14.75 million average per year). There is no doubt Baker is talented. However, there is one piece of irony to his massive deal. 

Budda Baker becomes the highest-paid safety in NFL history with a four-year, $59M deal, per @AdamSchefter

• $14.75M a year average
• $33.1M guaranteed pic.twitter.com/s2a9mtZDLY

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 25, 2020

The Cardinals’ safety has produced some very impressive on-field statistics. Here are his career stats: 46 games, 323 tackles, 18 for loss, seven quarterback hits, 14 passes defended, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one touchdown, 3.5 Sacks, two Pro Bowls, one First Team All-Pro. Do you see anything missing from that list? I certainly do. The highest-paid safety in NFL history has not recorded an interception. Not one. That is absolutely insane. 

We’ve all heard the old adage: If he could catch he would play offense. But to not have recorded any interceptions in 46 career games is pretty wild. That’s essentially three complete seasons. I think the Cardinals know they have a good thing in Baker, but you have to admit that is a pretty wild stat, or lack thereof.

In his defense, Baker has been excellent at breaking up passes and defending the run for the Cardinals. That much shows in his statistics. And to be honest, it reminds me of my former days as a safety. I didn’t pick the ball off very many times in my five-year career as a safety. Having said that, I didn’t give up many yards in the air, and I ran the alley like no other. Not comparing myself to Baker, I’m not in the NFL. But that is the type of player he is. Or maybe that I was? You get the point.

There has been some kinda wonky news in the NFL lately regarding false-positive coronavirus tests. However, I really hope they are able to pull off a complete season. I need the NFL. Badly. I want to see the newly paid Patrick Mahomes, Myles Garrett and now Cardinals’ Budda Baker. I want to hear the pop of the pads. I just want NFL Sundays. Is that too much to ask for? Way too many things have been canceled in 2020. I can’t afford to lose the NFL also. Roger Goodell, please deliver a season for the Cardinals, and for me and the rest of the fans at home. We need it.

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