The New England Patriots have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL. Christian Gonzalez is a bona fide superstar, and Carlton Davis proved the team right for last year's three-year investment in free agency. Marcus Jones is one of the league's best slot corners.
Behind the cornerbacks are two excellent safeties. Kevin Byard will replace Jaylinn Hawkins after leading the league in interceptions and earning his third All-Pro nod. Craig Woodson had a tremendous rookie season, and he'll look to continue to build on his early success.
The team's depth also has potential. Kindle Vildor is a veteran cornerback, while Charles Woods filled in at different points last season during his sophomore campaign. Karon Prunty was selected in the fifth round, while both Dell Pettus and Mike Brown offer depth at safety.
Despite potential in the team's depth roles, there isn't much proven talent. While players may break out during the summer, a more surefire way to add to the defensive backfield could be through a midseason trade.
Budda Baker could be an excellent addition to the Patriots
In a recent article from FanSided's Justin Carter, it was suggested that Cardinals safety Budda Baker could be on the move midseason.
The Cardinals are unlikely to be a winning team in 2026. They undoubtedly have plenty of young players with potential, like Jeremiyah Love, Marvin Harrison Jr., Walter Nolen, and Will Johnson. Their list of star players, however, is much shorter.
Trey McBride is a superstar at tight end, but defensively, only Baker stands out as a truly transcendent talent. A four-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, the former Washington Husky has become a franchise legend since being selected in 2017. Now 30, however, it may be time for the two sides to part ways while the Cardinals can still get something in return.
The Patriots have stars across their defensive backfield, but they lack versatility. Both Gonzalez and Davis missed time last year, and relying on Alex Austin or the aforementioned Woods was the only option. At safety, the team didn't see any long-term injuries, but relying on Pettus or Brenden Schooler to play more than a few defensive snaps would be very risky. In turn, adding a player like Baker could pay huge dividends.
Putting together a trade package for Budda Baker
Given his age and positional value, Baker likely wouldn't cost much to acquire. Given the Cardinals' selection of Carson Beck, and Jacoby Brissett's strong play down the stretch, new head coach Mike LaFleur will likely look to compete for the first few weeks before the team is inevitably retooled. Therefore, a midseason deal seems more likely.
Back in January, I linked Baker to the Patriots in a mock trade. Kevin Byard's move from the Titans to the Eagles was used as a benchmark. Now a Patriot, Byard was sent to Philadelphia for Terrell Edmunds along with fifth and sixth-round draft picks. Byard was also 30, and he too had a pair of First-Team All-Pros to his name. As suggested for Baker, he was traded midseason.
While it's difficult to project exactly who might be with the team midseason, trading a fourth-round selection and a player would seem reasonable, especially considering the more than $16 million the team acquiring Baker would have to take on multiple weeks into the year.
If the Patriots could acquire an eight-time Pro Bowler to round out the depth of their defense, it could pay major dividends when the going gets tough late in the season. Seeing as he's under contract until the end of 2027, the team could also build with him in mind for the following season.
Baker is a tremendous player, and fans should be excited at the prospect of him potentially becoming a New England Patriot prior to this year's trade deadline.
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