Budda Baker Hopes He's Still a Cardinal After the Trade Deadline: 'It's a Business'
The Pro Bowl safety says he hasn't requested a trade, hasn't asked not to be traded and hasn't talked to Monti Ossenfort with the 2-5 Cardinals approaching the Nov. 10 deadline
Budda Baker wants to be in Arizona when the trade deadline passes, but he isn't pretending it's up to him.
The Cardinals safety told ESPN's Josh Weinfuss on Wednesday that he has not requested a trade, nor has he asked not to be traded. He also said he hasn't spoken with general manager Monti Ossenfort "about anything."
"My approach is I'm here. I'm here. I want to win. I want to be here. And I'm just controlling what I can control, just taking it one week at a time, and hopefully when the deadline ends, I'll still be here. If not, I mean, it's a business. I understand at the end of the day and that's it."
— Budda Baker
Baker noted his name has been in trade rumors for "like five, six years now." This year the question is sharper. Arizona is 2-5 after last Sunday's 30-16 loss to Denver, and the deadline is Nov. 10.
The numbers back him up. Baker, 30 and in his 10th season, all with Arizona, has 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception and four passes defensed through seven games, putting him on pace for his seventh 100-tackle season. He has made eight Pro Bowls and was named a team captain again this year.
His contract is what would make him movable. Baker is in the second year of a three-year extension that runs through 2027 and is due $16.17 million this season, which means any team trading for him would be taking on a starter's salary through next season as well.
The Cardinals visit the Cowboys on Sunday.