Cardinals stand pat on trade deadline day despite reported interest in Budda Baker

The Arizona Cardinals did not make a deal ahead of the 2 p.m. MST trade deadline on Tuesday.

The Cardinals received “very strong” interest from the Buffalo Bills for safety Budda Baker, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, but Arizona held onto its franchise legend. Buffalo traded for Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker, sending a second-round pick and getting back a fifth-rounder.

Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported ahead of the deadline that the Cardinals would stand pat.

Arizona made two trades ahead of deadline day, dealing wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans last month and quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens last week.

The front office acquired the following picks in those two trades:

• 2027 second-rounder and 2027 sixth-rounder from Houston for Harrison and a 2027 seventh-rounder
• 2027 fourth-rounder and 2028 seventh-rounder from Baltimore for Brissett and 2027 fifth-rounder

Baker and edge rusher Josh Sweat were the two most notable Cardinals players in trade rumors leading up to Tuesday.

The Cardinals entered the deadline with a 3-6 record, three games back of a playoff spot. Their next two games are against the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs before the schedule lightens up.

Arizona has lost significant talent from its roster via injuries over the past couple of weeks. Wide receivers Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne are out for the year. Quarterback Gardner Minshew may join them, as he is being evaluated for a potential torn UCL — Arizona has reportedly signed two quarterbacks this week.

Running back and No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love went on injured reserve last week, joining left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., while center Hjalte Froholdt is in concussion protocol.

That is already a lot for a team to deal with, but the deadline passing represented a missed opportunity to build up the draft asset war chest further.

Perhaps the Cardinals were simply looking for more in potential trades. There is something to be said about taking even more talent off the roster for the second half, especially when evaluating a rookie quarterback in Carson Beck. There is the possibility the Cardinals believe they can turn their fortunes around quickly and want to keep Baker and Sweat until at least the offseason as they evaluate.

Either way, this was a quieter trade deadline day than expected, as the Cardinals push ahead with a decimated offense and largely intact defense to compete with.

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