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Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Employees Author
TEMPE, Ariz. — Nearly two years after asking for a brand new deal or to be traded, Arizona Cardinals All-Professional security Budda Baker obtained a brand new contract Tuesday.
Budda reached an settlement on a three-year extension value as much as $54 million with $30 million assured, a supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The $18 million per 12 months is the third-largest contract for a security in NFL historical past.
Baker is within the closing 12 months of a four-year, $59 million extension that is paying him $14.2 million. That deal, which he signed in 2020, made him the highest-paid NFL security on the time.
Baker, a six-time Professional Bowl choice and three-time All-Professional who’s second within the NFL with 142 tackles, did not head into this season it as a contract 12 months.
“I deal with each single 12 months like a contract 12 months,” Baker mentioned final offseason. “So, in fact I need to be a Cardinal, however on the finish of the day, I perceive it is a enterprise.”
Now, Baker, 28, could possibly be in place to retire with the Cardinals.
Baker’s teammates knew he was heading into the final 12 months of his contract and needed to assist preserve him in Arizona, linebacker Kyzir White mentioned.
Baker has turn into the spine of Arizona’s protection, each on and off the sector.
His presence has influenced how groups assault Arizona’s protection, with offenses committing quite a few assets all through a recreation to neutralize Baker.
Off the sector, Baker has been Arizona’s defensive chief for the previous few years. His work ethic has been praised by teammates as the usual on protection.
“Massive chief,” fellow security Jalen Thompson mentioned. “I really feel like he is a pacesetter. Sort of will get all people going. When the vitality is down, it is low, he is the man that is getting all people up. He is simply a type of guys that does every thing proper.”
