Budda Baker trade rumors. 2026

[Adrian]

If neither works out for the Bears, though, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes that they could emerge as trade partners for Arizona Cardinals All-Pro Budda Baker.

Bears Linked as Potential Trade Partners for $54 Million All-Pro

The Chicago Bears could make a trade for an All-Pro safety if Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker do not re-sign before 2026 free agency.

heavy.com

 

[BigDavis75]

Great, let’s do it. I can’t imagine the market for him is that good but would be happy if we can get an ok pick.

 

[Adrian]

Same source, different analysis

Budda Baker To The Bears? Why This Surprise Trade Buzz Suddenly Surfaced

The Chicago Bears may seek outside help at safety this offseason, and it sounds like Budda Baker might be on the table.

www.sportsmockery.com

 

[BritCard]

We seem to go through this every year.

It really depends who the DC is. I thought Gannon/Rallis used him poorly. Budda might be one of the worst ball playing safeties in the league. There were some plays in coverage at deep safety last year where he got embarrassed. He should never be at free safety.

But get a DC who will use him in the box and I don't think there's anyone better. I'd even go as far to say that Budda, despite his size, can be a hybrid safety/linebacker in sub packages where you want more DBs on the field. He's that good a tackler and reader of the game.

TBF to Vance Joseph there was a lot of things I didn't like about his defense but the way he used Budda was spot on.

My instinct is to trade a 30 year old safety, but I fear we wouldn't get much and he'd go to a team that would use him right and we'd look like fools.

With JT gone (at last, so overrated) we should put Budda at strong and Rabbit at free (when we line up that way).

Also, I don't want to undermine a new HC by taking away one of the few stars on the team. Doesn't send the right message. Unless they want a player swap. Budda for DJ Moore?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[JosiahLee]

We seem to go through this every year.

It really depends who the DC is. I thought Gannon/Rallis used him poorly. Budda might be one of the worst ball playing safeties in the league. There were some plays in coverage at deep safety last year where he got embarrassed. He should never be at free safety.

But get a DC who will use him in the box and I don't think there's anyone better. I'd even go as far to say that Budda, despite his size, can be a hybrid safety/linebacker in sub packages where you want more DBs on the field. He's that good a tackler and reader of the game.

TBF to Vance Joseph there was a lot of things I didn't like about his defense but the way he used Budda was spot on.

My instinct is to trade a 30 year old safety, but I fear we wouldn't get much and he'd go to a team that would use him right and we'd look like fools.

With JT gone (at last, so overrated) we should put Budda at strong and Rabbit at free (when we line up that way).

Also, I don't want to undermine a new HC by taking away one of the few stars on the team. Doesn't send the right message. Unless they want a player swap. Budda for DJ Moore?

I was shocked Budda made the Pro Bowl, confirms my suspicions that it’s still just a popularity contest. He was pretty irrelevant last season.

Now my unpopular opinion, I would rather keep a younger JT than an aging Budda. I think we’ve already seen his drop off….we’re probably close to where his production simply falls off a cliff.

 

[GeorgiaCard88]

This is definitely the last year you can get anything for Buddha. Trade em, dude was cooked last year.

 

[Chopper0080]

Probably gonna wait until there is an actual staff hired before speculating on trades.

 

[Chopper0080]

Everyone says he is cooked and yet his stats in 2025 were very similar to Kyle Hamilton's. Ints. PDs. Tackles. TFLs. Comp % against. QB rating against. Missed tackles %. All pretty close.

 

[Totally_Red]

I don't want to trade Budda because he brings veteran leadership in the secondary.

However if da Bears shopping DJ Moore rumor is true, I'd trade Budda and a day 3 pick for DJ.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I was shocked Budda made the Pro Bowl, confirms my suspicions that it’s still just a popularity contest. He was pretty irrelevant last season.

He also makes the top 100 players in the NFL list every year which is voted on by his peers.

Trading Budda does make the most sense this year. He still is widely regarded as an elite player around the league and by trading him this season the Cardinals would add about $13-16M to the cap that the new staff could use to fix other more pressing needs.

 

[vince56]

I was shocked Budda made the Pro Bowl, confirms my suspicions that it’s still just a popularity contest. He was pretty irrelevant last season.

Now my unpopular opinion, I would rather keep a younger JT than an aging Budda. I think we’ve already seen his drop off….we’re probably over close to where his production simply falls off a cliff.

I love Budda and think he goes in the ring of honor when it’s all said and done. Having said that, he’s a great hybrid defender, but he has struggled in the passing game. In the modern NFL it feels like you really need 3 starting-caliber safeties - two deep that can cover and a slot defender that can cover man and still defend the edge. I’d like to see us draft a safety that can cover.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Budda recently sold his Paradise Valley Mansion for around $9M back in December. So that would make a move even easier I would assume.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

He had a pick in the pro bowl games. His value has never been higher, trade him .

 

[slanidrac16]

We could say we were doing it for him so he has an opportunity for a Championship.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

We could say we were doing it for him so he has an opportunity for a Championship.

Well, that limits your trade partners to realistically less than 10 teams.

 

[slanidrac16]

Well, that limits your trade partners to realistically less than 10 teams.

Really refers to the Bear chatter. I doubt the Cardinals would trade him to the Jets.

 

[BritCard]

He's probably at an age and has a contract that would only garner a 4th/5th anyway. Not sure I'd want to trade his leadership away for that.

 

[Shane]

He's probably at an age and has a contract that would only garner a 4th/5th anyway. Not sure I'd want to trade his leadership away for that.

His leadership that has lead us to a 54-94 record since his arrival? 3-14 without… 5-12 with…..

 

[dscher]

We seem to go through this every year.

It really depends who the DC is. I thought Gannon/Rallis used him poorly. Budda might be one of the worst ball playing safeties in the league. There were some plays in coverage at deep safety last year where he got embarrassed. He should never be at free safety.

But get a DC who will use him in the box and I don't think there's anyone better. I'd even go as far to say that Budda, despite his size, can be a hybrid safety/linebacker in sub packages where you want more DBs on the field. He's that good a tackler and reader of the game.

TBF to Vance Joseph there was a lot of things I didn't like about his defense but the way he used Budda was spot on.

My instinct is to trade a 30 year old safety, but I fear we wouldn't get much and he'd go to a team that would use him right and we'd look like fools.

With JT gone (at last, so overrated) we should put Budda at strong and Rabbit at free (when we line up that way).

Also, I don't want to undermine a new HC by taking away one of the few stars on the team. Doesn't send the right message. Unless they want a player swap. Budda for DJ Moore?

Well put. This perfectly describes my disdain for him in coverage and not necessarily him as an overall player.

 

[azgreg]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Totally_Red]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

BIM: bag

 

[BritCard]

His leadership that has lead us to a 54-94 record since his arrival? 3-14 without… 5-12 with…..

He has little control over whether we win and that has little to do with leadership.

 

[Shane]

He has little control over whether we win and that has little to do with leadership.

Leadership doesn’t matter when it comes to winning?

 

[BritCard]

Leadership doesn’t matter when it comes to winning?

Of course it matters. But it's not all that matters. Budda can't throw the ball.