Cardinals Safety Budda Baker Present at Mandatory Minicamp

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker said he would be present when he needed to show up - he reportedly held his end of the bargain.

The Arizona Cardinals have gone through quite the offseason, and actual football for the upcoming season is rapidly approaching. One of the last questions the Cardinals were forced to answer was the status of Budda Baker - their star safety who went public with his trade request after Arizona didn't meet his demands to make him the highest paid player at his position. 

Baker didn't show for any voluntary workouts (he did his own work to ensure he would be ready) but did say in a recent interview he would show up when it mattered. 

It appears he's held his end of the bargain. 

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport is reporting Baker is indeed in the building as the Cardinals are set to open mandatory minicamp this week.

#AZCardinals star S Budda Baker, who has requested a trade, is present and in the building as AZ prepares for mandatory minicamp, I'm told.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 12, 2023

Rapoport also mentioned any player who skips mandatory minicamp is subject to some fines: $16,459 the first day, $32,920 the second day and $49,374 the third day, which totals nearly $99,000.

Some notable faces around the NFL such as Danielle Hunter and Saquon Barkley have stated they will skip their own mandatory minicamps, the last step of the process before training camp later in July.

Baker (27-years-old) has just two years left on his deal in Arizona with no guaranteed money. 

“For me personally, I’m just letting the business aspect handle the business aspect, letting my agent handle all that type of stuff. Just continuing to have tunnel vision on my work ethic, being the best person I can be outside of football and just enjoying life," Baker said earlier in the offseason.

The Cardinals were counting on Baker to be a key part of their rebuild, which may be more advanced than some thought back in the early days of the offseason thanks to some strong work from the organization. 

While it remains to be seen how Baker will be handled financially, we at least know he'll be in the building.