Earlier this offseason, Eddie Jackson became the highest-paid safety in the NFL after the Chicago Bears gave him a four-year, $58.4 million extension. Nevertheless, his time as the top-paid safety lasted fewer than eight months. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Arizona Cardinals are making Budda Baker the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
Arizona is making 24-year-old, two-time, Pro-Bowl selection Budda Baker the highest-paid safety in the NFL history, giving him a four-year, $59 million contract extension ($14.75M average per year), sources tell ESPN.
Asked about the deal, agent @DavidMulugheta confirmed it.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2020
Similar to Jackson, Baker's deal with the Cardinals is over four years. But he'll slightly top Jackson's $58.4 million total value by receiving $59 million from Arizona.
Baker, who was a second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2017, has been a marquee player in Arizona's defense. Though, as Schefter points out, it's interesting to see that the league's current highest-paid safety has yet to record an interception in his career yet.
Here’s the oddity to Budda Baker becoming the highest-paid safety in NFL history. He has 323 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 14 pass deflections…..but not a single interception. The NFL’s highest-paid safety hasn’t picked off a pass. https://t.co/VnoDgrRmuM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2020
Despite Baker's lack of interceptions in the box score, he's been extremely productive for the Cardinals in his first three seasons. The Washington product has combined for 14 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.
In 2019, Baker led Arizona in tackles with 147 and also notched six pass breakups with a forced fumble. As a result of his production thus far, Baker has been selected to two Pro Bowls. He was also named an All-Pro in his rookie season in 2017.
The NFL is littered with talented safeties that are searching for new contracts soon; a la Jamal Adams, Justin Simmons, Anthony Harris, John Johnson, etc.
While Baker is smiling ear-to-ear with his new extension, other safeties in the NFL are also put on notice, knowing the market for safeties just went up again.
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