Over the course of the last eight seasons, the Arizona Cardinals have had four different head coaches and two general managers (and two interim GMs), evidence of the turmoil in the organization as it continues its search for consistent success.
Safety Budda Baker has watched that change unfold over the course of his career, and will continue to do so for at least a few more years after signing a new extension to remain in Arizona through the 2027 season.
Speaking recently about why he decided to re-sign despite the changeover from what the team looked like when he was drafted, Baker expressed that regardless of past frustrations, he has faith the current iteration of the Cardinals can be the ones to turn things around.
"I was drafted here, I know it was a different GM and a different coaching staff, but for me all I've been trying to do is do my job at a high level each and every day," Baker said on The Mina Kimes Show this week. "Of course, I'm a sore loser, I hate losing, and my career with the Cardinals has kind of been more losing than winning.
"But for me it's just stay ten toes down, you believe in what you believe in, and I believe in this coaching staff, I believe in these players that we brought in, free agency, draft, and very excited for the future."
Since Baker was drafted by Arizona in 2017, the Cardinals have accumulated an overall record of 51-80, with only one finish above .500 and a single playoff appearance -- a wild-card loss -- to show for it.
Despite it all, Baker has consistently succeeded as a stalwart in the secondary no matter the circumstances around him. Considered one of the top safeties in the league with a salary to match, Baker has made the Pro Bowl in six consecutive seasons and seven of his eight total years in the league, also tacking on a pair of First-Team All-Pro nods.
His future in the desert was thrown into question in 2023, however, just a few months into the current regime's tenure. Seeking a new contract commensurate with his top-notch production, Baker requested a trade during the 2023 offseason, leading to worries that one of the team's veteran leaders would not be there long as the new coaching staff tried to right the ship.
Ultimately things settled after Baker's deal was re-worked to grant him a pay raise, and then near the end of the 2024 season Baker received his desired extension. That new three-year pact lifted him back into the top five in average salary for safeties and kept him from hitting free agency this offseason. With his immediate future secured, Baker can turn his attention to the season ahead and the team's efforts to get back to winning ways.
A big part of Baker's faith in the Cardinals' future comes from his trust in his quarterback, Kyler Murray. Baker spoke highly of his teammate, who has also been vocal this offseason about his belief that Arizona is "on the up and up."
Drafted two years after Baker in 2019, Murray joins Baker as two of the longest-tenured players on the roster, though his career has featured ups and downs due to inconsistent play and injuries, notably a torn ACL in 2022.
Nevertheless, Baker named Murray as his pick for the most underrated QB in the league, saying the team's recent struggles and the subsequent lack of attention on them has hidden a star from the national audience.
"We haven't had a lot of national games, and people kind of see him as a 'shirt' guy, but this guy can make all the throws inside the pocket, outside the pocket, and he's quick," Baker said. "You see it on tape, he's outrunning everybody all the time. ... It's definitely exciting, but it's cool to just lay under the weeds and have him be that underrated guy, just kind of show who he is this year and throughout the whole season."
