Budda Baker will stay with the Arizona Cardinals for at least a few more years.
The All-Pro safety agreed to a three-year contract extension, the Cardinals announced Tuesday. By ESPN’s Adam SchefterThe contract will pay Baker a total of $54 million, with $30 million guaranteed.
The $18 million average annual value for Baker, 28, makes it the fourth-largest contract in NFL safety history, behind Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers and Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Baker has been a standout for the Cardinals since they selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, he has earned two first-team All-Pro nods, one second-team nod and six Pro Bowl selections. He led the NFL in solo tackles in 2019 and is on pace to repeat the feat this season.
The Cardinals (7-7) have struggled at times on defense, but rarely because of Baker. He has proven to be a fundamental member of the team and the second one they extend this season. Running back James Conner signed a two-year contract late last month.
Now, he is under contract until at least 2027, which would be his 11th season in the NFL.