Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is expected to stay in the desert a little longer as he has agreed to a contract extension for three more years and $54 million, according to ESPN Adam Schefter. $30 million is guaranteed.

According to Schefter, the average amount of $18 million per year is the highest for a safety’s third contract in league history. Baker is considered the best defensive back in the league and an important part of the Cardinals defense.

Baker is currently in the final year of the contract extension he signed after his rookie contract expired. This four-year deal, worth up to $59 million, will give him a base salary of $14.2 million this year.

Baker was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 draft with the No. 36 overall pick. He was named first-team All-Pro twice and was a member of the NFC Pro Bowl team six times in seven career NFL seasons prior to 2024.

In his career, Baker has played in 119 games, including 109, and recorded seven interceptions. In 2021, he set a single-season career high with three players. He also has six forced fumbles and five recoveries in his career as the Cardinals move him around the defense and allow him to make plays around the ball and in the box. That means the safety has 9.5 career sacks and 46 tackles for loss.

Baker receiving this extension also marks a major turnaround in the last 18 months, as he requested a trade in early 2023, a request that was not granted.

“Oh yeah, of course I’ll be there when it’s time,” Baker told 12Sports’ Cameron Cox in 2023 in his first public talk since the trade request. “When it’s time to be there, I’ll be there smiling and being the same normal guy I am.”

Baker played college football Washington and was part of the Huskies team that made it to the College Football Playoff during the 2016 season.