ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN’s Bowen: Best potential landing spots for Budda Baker, DeAndre Hopkins

Jun 3, 2023, 3:55 PM

Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during the second quarter against the Carolina Pan...

Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 34-10. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)

As the NFL season rapidly approaches, many teams are fitting together the final puzzle pieces of their rosters.

The Arizona Cardinals and a couple of their star players have been hot topics this offseason.

Wideout DeAndre Hopkins was, in a surprising move, released by the team and is a free agent eligible to sign with whatever team he pleases. The second big name involved in trade rumors has been safety Budda Baker.

Baker requested a trade from the Cardinals in April but said he’ll be back among the organization “when it’s time to be there.”

As the Cardinals are projected by many to finish at the bottom of the NFC West, ESPN’s Matt Bowen gave the best potential landing spots for both Hopkins and Baker.

Hopkins is 30 years old and is still one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Bowen sees his best fit in Kansas City with the Chiefs.

One issue is many of the title-contending teams that he may want to play for do not have the cap space that a top player at the position typically would make.

Hopkins will have to make a decision on taking a large contract with a team that still has the cap space to make the deal or taking a lesser deal with a team he thinks can win it all.

There will be multiple teams with interest in Hopkins. The Bills fit here. The Jets, Patriots and Cowboys, too. Maybe even the Browns. With the Chiefs and coach Andy Reid, however, he could be used as a boundary target for Patrick Mahomes or work inside on leveled concepts to attack schemed voids in the coverage. Hopkins would join a title contender and upgrade the league’s best pass game.

Baker, 27, signed a four-year, $59 million contract with Arizona and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2025. He is highly regarded as one of the best safeties in the league and his trade request could be a business move for more money in a contract.

He has been a captain and an anchor for the Cardinals’ defense for many years and with J.J. Watt’s retirement, Arizona may need the leadership for the younger regime.

Bowen believes the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro player would best fit in Philadelphia with the Eagles.

The Eagles signed safety Terrell Edmunds in free agency and drafted rookie Sydney Brown in Round 3, but would general manager Howie Roseman take a swing to land a veteran? Baker, who requested a trade in April, is one of the league’s most urgent safeties. He has incredible play speed and would fit as a top-down defender in split-field coverages under new coordinator Sean Desai.

Baker had at least 98 tackles over the past five seasons, and he creates plays on the ball in coverage, too.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Bidwill...

Associated Press

Former Cardinals employee files lawsuit against owner Michael Bidwill for verbal abuse

A former assistant to Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill filed a lawsuit against him, saying that she was verbally abused during her tenure.

13 hours ago

Larry Fitzgerald...

Damon Allred

Larry Fitzgerald praises Kenny Dillingham following ASU offer to son Devin

Larry Fitzgerald threw some credit Kenny Dillingham's way following his son's recent offer to be a Sun Devil.

20 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals is embracing change amid coaching staff carousel....

Tyler Drake

‘Part of the business’: Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon facing new challenge in Year 3

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is facing a new reality with the departures of multiple assistants this offseason.

2 days ago

A recent ESPN mock draft has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks in the first two rounds of the NF...

Brandon Cadiz

ESPN’s Matt Miller has Cardinals taking two CBs in Mock Draft

ESPN's analyst Matt Miller has the Cardinals taking two cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

3 days ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort looks on. It's officially NFL mock draft season with Arizona's...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will Cardinals do with No. 16 pick?

A look across the NFL mock draft landscape when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals' No. 16 overall pick in this year's draft.

4 days ago

The Jaguars are hiring former Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next QBs coac...

Tyler Drake

Jaguars hiring Cardinals’ Spencer Whipple as their new quarterbacks coach

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hiring Cardinals pass game specialist Spencer Whipple as their next quarterbacks coach.

4 days ago

ESPN’s Bowen: Best potential landing spots for Budda Baker, DeAndre Hopkins