The Arizona Cardinals are having a surprisingly good season so far in 2024, working their way to a 4-4 record thanks to a few last-second wins. As the NFL trade deadline approaches, the Cardinals find themselves in an interesting position where they can choose to be sellers and give away some of their veteran pieces, or they can try to be buyers and aim for a division title.
One player that competing teams are blowing up Cardinals phones for is star safety Budda Baker. Baker is one of the best safeties in the NFL and is a free agent this offseason, so teams think they can get him at a discount.
However, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort ignores trade rumors around Baker when they are high, according to Howard Balzer of Cardinals Wire.
“I would say, ‘Don’t believe everything you read.’ Budda plays an important role in what we do. Budda plays an important role not only on the field but also off the field and the leadership he provides,” Ossenfort said, according to Balzer. “I think there’s a lot of information, a lot of misinformation going around this time of year, whether it’s about our players or someone else’s players.
“Unfortunately, this is the world we live in. People can throw around anything that actually has no truth to it. That’s why our league is so popular and people love reading about it. …I couldn’t be more excited to have Budda with us.
Baker leads the Cardinals with 79 total tackles in eight games this season, a number that ranks fifth in the league this year. He also has four tackles for loss and two assists.
Cardinals shouldn’t be sellers at NFL trade deadline
Many thought the Cardinals would be at the bottom of the NFC West standings this season, but the first half of the year didn’t go that way. Jonathan Gannon and company are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the division and have a real chance to win a home playoff game this winter.
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The Cardinals are in this spot for several reasons. The Seahawks, 49ers and Rams have all struggled with injuries so far this season, and Arizona has taken advantage. They also became incredibly powerful late in games, scoring a handful of last-second victories, including one against the 49ers themselves.
From start to finish, the Cardinals defense is very exploitable, and some teams like the Detroit Lions have really gone after them this season. This is a group that relies heavily on turnovers to get stops, which may not be sustainable in the future. However, if they remain optimistic, they can continue to hang around in matches.
On the other hand, the offense has been extremely good at times. Kyler Murray has played some very good football in spurts and is always capable of creating something out of nothing at any moment. The running game is a delightful watch with the combination of Murray and James Conner pounding the rock, and Arizona is gradually involving Marvin Harrison Jr. in the passing game.
The Cardinals may not win the division, but they are right in the middle of the race as the season reaches the halfway point. For that reason alone, the front office should hold on to their chips and try to get through this.
