Cincinnati Bengals Could Pursue Trade For This All Pro Defender

After a lost 2023 season that got away from them because of injuries, the Cincinnati Bengals still haven’t cleared out all of the cobwebs. They’re still dealing with the Ja’Marr Chase contract extension saga that has caused him to periodically hold out of practices this summer, and fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is playing on their franchise tag, also needs an extension.

At the same time, there are some questions about Cincinnati’s defense. While it has pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who was tied for second in the NFL in sacks last year with 17.5, its secondary could use a boost.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report had an interesting idea for the team to improve its secondary: trade for safety Budda Baker.

“The Cincinnati Bengals have $10.8 million in cap space and should take a long look at Baker if he’s available,” Knox wrote. “They brought back Vonn Bell on a one-year deal this offseason, but Baker would provide a long-term upgrade.”

Baker has certainly proven himself in his seven seasons in the NFL. He has been named to the Pro Bowl six times and the All-Pro First Team twice, and he has been a mainstay of the Arizona Cardinals ever sicne they took him in the second round of the 2017 draft.

He is now in the final year of his current contract, and he asked to be traded several months ago, but instead, Arizona gave him a pay raise. He’s 28 years of age, and last season, he had 87 total tackles (58 solo) and five tackles for loss.

The Cardinals, more likely than not, will not make the playoffs this season, even with the arrival of highly heralded rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. It will take them a while to become contenders, and thus one has to think Baker would welcome a trade to a legitimate contender such as Cincinnati, as long as that contender grant his request for a contract extension.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is widely considered one of the elite ones in football, and if the team resolves the contract situations of both Chase and Higgins, it should have at least a puncher’s chance of getting to the Super Bowl.

They made it to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, only to narrowly lose there to the Los Angeles Rams. Overall, the franchise has gotten there three times, only to lose on each occasion.

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