Former Cardinals DB Tony Jefferson Picks Five Landing Spots for Budda Baker
Offseason chatter and rumors normally ramps up around draft time - and though the Arizona Cardinals are at the center of much of it with the No. 3 overall pick at their disposal - talk around the team took a different path after Budda Baker reportedly requested a trade this week.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Baker approached the team back in February and demanded a trade if they didn't make him the highest-paid safety in football. Baker has just two years left on his extension received back in 2020 and his salaries are not guaranteed.
The Cardinals - who appear to not be willing to give that money to Baker - now look to potentially move another superstar after they've been trying to deal DeAndre Hopkins for months now.
As for where Baker should go, former teammate Tony Jefferson has a few ideas as to where he should land: Jacksonville, Denver, Pittsburgh, Green Bay and New England.
Pairing Baker with another top safety (Pittsburgh with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Denver with Justin Simmons) obviously seems ideal in a conference where you're dealing with elite quarterbacks come playoff time. Green Bay and New England hope to be playoff teams this season and Jacksonville is a team on the rise.
Jaguar Report's John Shipley says Jacksonville makes sense for a handful of reasons:
"It makes sense considering the Jaguars have nine draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft to work with and a big void in the secondary to fill. While Baker is much more than just a nickel cornerback, he could fill the Jaguars' need in a slot in a big way, all while increasing the defense's overall playmaking ability and ceiling," Shipley said.
The Cardinals currently have eight picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, which includes four in the first three rounds. Perhaps that number grows with a trade.
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