​With the Arizona Cardinals off to a 1-2 start in the 2026 season, it could be another long year in Phoenix as former Washington Huskies star safety Budda Baker continues to flourish as one of the NFL’s best defensive backs.The eight-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro honoree is off to a hot start with 20 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup, but at 30 years old, he’s only played in one playoff game in the first nine years of his career.That has led to the former second-round pick being one of the hottest names on the trade market for several years, and according to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, he could be at the center of trade rumors yet again as Arizona’s rebuild continues in what is arguably the toughest division in the NFL right now, the NFC West.Budda Baker has been one of the best safeties in Cardinals history, but this defense is still incomplete. It may finally be time for Arizona to move on.WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE: https://t.co/F5taqM1eCNpic.twitter.com/yQEb6FoA8X— Locked On Arizona Cardinals (@lockedonazcards) October 2, 2026″Budda Baker…probably doesn’t have a lengthy future in Arizona,” Knox wrote. “The 30-year-old is still a starting-caliber safety, but he looms as a likely 2027 cap casualty. The Cardinals could save $17.9 million in cap space by trading or releasing Baker in the offseason. With consecutive losses making a 2026 run seem unlikely, Arizona should start weighing Baker’s value as a trade chip.”One area where Baker has struggled early in the 2026 season is in pass coverage, as according to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed a perfect 158.3 passer rating on five targets through the first three games of the season.With his production numbers and one year remaining (with a potential out) on a three-year, $54 million contract he signed in December 2024, he could be a hot commodity for a team looking for some additional production in the secondary.This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington All-American could be a hot trade commodity