Reward Budda NOW
By Walter Mitchell
Apparently per reports before yesterday's 4 PM ET trading deadline, the Buffalo Bills had been maing "a strong push" to acquire the Arizona Cardinals' 8-time Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker.
The actual specifics of what the Bills' "strong push" were for acquiring Budda have not been revealed. Word was what that the Bills actually learned during their strong push was that the Cardinals were highly relucatant to trade Budda.
And when the Bills quickly shifted their attention eslewhere and made a deal to trade their 2027 2nd round pick for Tennessee Titans' free safety Amani Hooker and the Titans' 2027 5th round pick, numerous irate Cardinals' pundits and fans assumed that the Cardinals turned down the same deal.
Yesterday's reactions:
Theory: the Bills wanted the Cardinals to absorb for a hefty portion of Budda's remaining salary. Amani Hooker's salary was more affordable on this year's cap, he's two years younger, signed through 2028 and what the Bills lacked most was a good, rangy centerfielder in pass coverage. Hooker has 5 interceptions this year and had 4 last year. Budda's strength is in the box.
We may never know the details of what the Bills were discussing with the Cardinals. We don't even know if the Bills made an offer. The fact that the Bills assumed all of Amani Hooker's contract (3 years $40.5M, which runs through 2028) says a lot. Budda's contract is void of guaranteed money next year, 2027. The Bills knew he could be a half-a-year rental.
I don't think the Bills would have offered up a 2nd under those circumstances, not when they could acquire one of the best deep safety ballhawks in the league for 2 1/2 years on a very reasonable salary. It's very surprising that the Titans moved off of him and Jeffrey Simmons. Those kind of players don't grow on trees. In Hooker the Bills got a deal they likely never thought could happen and it could be that the Bills used their rumored "strong push fopr Budda" as potential leverage.
Why I am relieved there was no deal? I like the thought of a new GM picking his own coaching staff and having the potential to cater the 2027 Cardinals' defense strictly to Budda's strengths.
As for Josh Sweat, in the end, it's quite possible that the way he handled the off-season, took several games to get in football shape and has not looked like the same player he was last year, prospective teams were unwilling to risk paying him the balance of his contract this season and in the off-season having to give him what he wants on a new deal. Half-a-year rentals are risky. As are picking up a player who only works and trains on his own terms.
Budda Baker addresses the upcoming trade deadline.
"It would mean a lot (to finish his career with the Cardinals). You know at the end of the day I want to win games."
A couple weeks ago, Baker told that he has not requested a trade and hopes to stay with the Cardinals,
Post-game interview when Budda was asked whether he wants to be traded:
Interpretation: "You know at the end of the day I want to win games."
Meaning: the burden of playing through losing seasons in what has been a perpetual rebuild in Arizona has been oppressive.
At the same time, Budda acknowledges how significant it could be to be a career-long Cardinal, the way Larry Fitzgerald was. Like Larry, Budda has often said with great appreciation, "My home is in Arizona."
Conclusion:
Budda would have welcomed a trade to Buffalo for the chance to play meaningful football under the brightest of lights in the quest for donning a Super Bowl ring.
The current reality for Budda is, the Cardinals love him and want to keep him.
But now, seeing as keeping Budda was a priority, the Cardinals' front office needs to step up and give Budda the reward of added financial secutity.
Not later --- not two months from now --- right NOW!
Budda's cap figure for 2027 is $20.9M, yet only $3.1M of it is guaranteed.
The least the Cardinals should do is give Budda significantly more guaranteed money for 2027.
If the Cardinqals just let things ride the way Michael Bidwill habitually does, then it will cause Budda to have to do what he did in 2023 when the guaranteed money from his second contract was gone, which forced him to ask for the contract extension that he was assured of getting by the former GM, Steve Keim --- and if the extension was not offered by the new GM, Monti Ossenfort --- then ask for a trade.
Seeing as now that the coaches are playing Budda up in the box where he is wreaking havoc (most tackles among all of the defensive backs on the team this season with 51, per usual, and he is still the best, most intimidating tackler on the team. plus right now, he has most sacks on the defense with 3.5 and is the team's most tenaciously ferocious pass rushing threat) the best thing the Cardinals could do is to give Budda a 3-year extension with $30M in guaranteed money that is chock-full of incentives, including bonus money for wins and playoff berths.
The Cardinals need to convince Budda that they are 100% serious about winning games which is why they want him to remain their alpha leader and pay him what he deserves.
If the Cardinals' decision to stick with Budda isn't matched with an immediate financial vote of confidence, then the Cardinals are going to, once again, be seen as the NFL's organmational laughing stock.
If the Cardinals do not reward Budda now, then they will be holding their most iconic player hostage under the most difficult of circumstances.
Essentially the Cardinals would be torturing the man.
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