Report: Green Bay Packers Acquire Elite Defensive Star Through Trade Proposal
The Green Bay Packers made headlines at the end of last season, going 6-2 down the stretch, making the playoffs, and defeating the fancied Dallas Cowboys before being eliminated in the next round by the Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers.
Despite being the youngest to win a playoff game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the team performed admirably and gained confidence during the season. Quarterback Jordan Love, who was questioned by fans and the media before the season, played like the star many expected him to be, leading the upstart offensive unit with maturity.
However, while the future looks promising in Green Bay, there are still areas that require development. If a Super Bowl run (or, at the absolute least, a deeper playoff run) is on the horizon, deficiencies must be addressed.
Addressing Safety Concerns with Budda Baker
One of those weaknesses appears to be at safety, where the team might lose Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Christian Uphoff in free agency. The Packers aren’t known for making large free-agent signings, so it’s unlikely they’d go that route to restock the position.
Budda Baker, a six-time Pro Bowl safety with the Arizona Cardinals, could be available in a trade to help cover the vacancies.
The seven-year veteran is in the final year of his four-year, $59 million contract with Arizona and appears to be an unusual business match for the Packers’ front office, which has been cautious in its purchases. It would be particularly odd given that the team now has less than $8 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap.
Making Budda Fit
However, Matthew Schmidt of NFL Analysis is one of several pundits who believe the Packers should bite the bullet and make this move, believing that they are only one or two exceptional impact players away from a strong Super Bowl run next season. Conversely, the Cardinals may be eager to trade existing players for draft capital.
“The Packers could send a 2024 second-round draft pick to Arizona in exchange for Baker,” Schmidt wrote in an email, “which would provide Green Bay with a terrific Savage replacement and give the Cards a valuable draft asset to use toward the probable retooling of their roster.”
According to the Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department, the deal would immediately improve the team’s defense, as they may lose safety Jonathan Owens, Christian Uphoff, and Darnell Savage to free agency this year. Dealing for Arizona safety Budda Baker, who is nearing the end of his deal, might help replenish the secondary swiftly.
Of course, such a transaction would necessitate some economic maneuvering for a team like the Packers, which is already on a tight budget. Bringing Baker aboard would most likely necessitate Green Bay immediately signing a contract extension with the veteran in order to reallocate resources and make the high-earning starter a better financial match
What Budda Baker Could Bring To The Packers
The 28-year-old is still regarded to be in his peak physical condition and will have an instant positive impact on the club. And, in the case of the Packers, he’d provide much-needed, seasoned, veteran leadership to a young team full of youthful confidence. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to state that he’d set a good example for those around him and help everyone improve their game.
He’s also a dependable, long-lasting field presence, missing only 10 of 115 possible regular-season games in his career.
Overall, this would be a good move for the Packers, and it would not cost the team much except for the time required to execute some creative bookkeeping.
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