DEAL AGREED AND CONFIRMED: Commanders Have Agreed a Blockbuster Trade to Land $59 Million NFL 3X All-Pro From NFC West In Free Agency

Matt Holder of Bleacher Report forecasts that the Commanders will sign three-time NFL All-Pro safety Budda Baker in free agency in 2025. Washington is expected to have $103.6 million in cap space, according to Spotrac, and should be able to make several significant moves.

“(Safety) Quan Martin has been struggling in coverage this season,” Holder pointed out. “Also, Jeremy Chinn is just on a one-year contract, so Washington should look closely at this year’s safety class in free agency. Baker will be one of the top players available at the position this offseason, and the franchise can afford to pay him because it is expected to have more than $100 million in salary space.”

Baker, a 3-time NFL All-Pro, is in the final season of a 4-year, $59 million contract extension he signed with the Arizona Cardinals prior to the 2020 season.

Cardinals Seem Ready to Part Ways with Baker.

Baker has been one of the NFL’s top safeties since the Cardinals selected him in the second round (36th overall) from the University of Washington in the 2017 NFL draft. He is also a six-time Pro Bowler.

Baker has also been the subject of trade rumours for the past two years, after the Cardinals declined to give him a raise that would have made him one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL, prompting Baker to request a trade.

Baker earned his 100th career start for the Cardinals in a Week 5 win over the San Francisco 49ers on October 6, and he was unconcerned about the trade rumours that surround him.

“I don’t really see any of that (trade) type of stuff,” Baker told Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic prior to the 49ers game. “I’m just focused on San Francisco and the upcoming game. If that happens, (general manager) Monti (Ossenfort) will hopefully notify me, but I do not believe it will happen.”

Commanders Made Bold Trade Moves in Secondary

The Commanders have already demonstrated their willingness to make aggressive moves to improve their defence and secondary by trading for New Orleans Saints cornerback and NFL All-Pro Marshon Lattimore on November 5.

While safety could have been a trade option, the Commanders determined that the more immediate need was at cornerback, with the team 7-3 heading into a vital Thursday Night Football game against NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles in week 11.

Lattimore did not play in Week 10’s defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers as he continued to recover from a hamstring injury that held him out of his final game with the Saints in Week 9.