The New England Patriots have put together one of the league's best defenses when healthy. The absences of Milton Williams and Robert Spillane have clearly hurt them in defending the run over the past few weeks, but as a whole, allowing just 20 points per game is excellent.
Over the past few weeks, the defensive backfield has been very impressive. Christian Gonzalez continues to be one of the best in football, while Marcus Jones has ascended to one of the best slot corners in the league. Carlton Davis had a shaky start to the season, but has been incredible since his breakout performance against the Bengals.
PFF has graded him a 77.0 or higher in a handful of games over the past month, and quarterbacks have a 55% completion rate with 22 yards per game when targeting him.
At safety, the room's reconstruction has come along faster than expected. Jaylinn Hawkins has had a breakout season as PFF's 7th-best safety, and Craig Woodson has played the most snaps of any Patriots rookie. Dell Pettus has an 86.9 overall grade in limited snaps as well.
Despite an overachieving defensive backfield, the team has struggled to defend tight ends and also needs to get deeper at cornerback. After their first three cornerbacks and starting safeties, there's a sharp drop-off. Thankfully, there's an All-Pro who could be available for a discount this offseason that could help.
The Patriots should take a swing at Budda Baker this offseason
As mentioned, the defensive backfield is top-heavy. After Jones, the cornerback room features players who've yet to prove much in the NFL. Alex Austin lost his spot at CB4 before being placed on IR to Charles Woods, a second-year SMU Mustang with 87 career snaps. Miles Battle is a core special teamer, but hasn't been entrusted with a defensive role.
At safety, Pettus has performed in his limited snaps, but he isn't a reliable option for a playoff team. If Hawkins or Woodson were to get hurt, the team's defense would have a massive hole. Hawkins will be a free agent at the end of the year, and even with both healthy, an offseason upgrade could be in order.
Enter Budda Baker, a seven-time Pro Bowler. On the surface, it seems ridiculous for Arizona to trade one of its franchise's best-ever defensive backs, but it seems Arizona may enter rebuild mode in 2026. Baker will be 30 in January, and he's on the books for $19.2 million, all while the Cardinals have just under $30 million to turn around a three-win team with a 33-year-old Jacoby Brissett at the helm.
While releasing Baker would offer them just $5.3 million in cap relief, a trade would clear $13.1 million.
Baker is having the worst season of his career. PFF grades him the 92nd best safety in football out of 99, and his coverage grade of 30.4 is the second worst in the league. He's had a grade of 70+ in just two games all year, and opposing quarterbacks have a 78.3% completion rate when targeting him.
There's no doubt Baker hasn't been as good this season as he's shown in years past: just last season, he was named a Second-team All-Pro. Add in the fact that he just sold his Arizona home, and it doesn't seem out of the question that they move on from him.
Trading for Baker wouldn't take much
Kevin Byard was traded to the Eagles from the Titans at 30 years old, the same age Baker will be in the offseason. Byard was also a two-time First-team All-Pro, and the Eagles shipped a fifth and sixth round pick, along with Terrell Edmunds, to Tennessee for his services. It would likely take a similar package to land Baker should he become available: perhaps a fourth and sixth-round pick?
Absorbing Baker's contract would be a main piece of the trade, but that wouldn't be a problem for the Patriots, who have the ninth-most cap space in 2026. If he can get back to his 2024 play, acquiring him for a pair of Day 3 picks would be a bargain.
The key with Baker will be utilizing him as chess piece in the defensive backfield: be it as a deep safety, in the box, or as a slot corner, he would offer cover to every position, an upgrade to the starting safeties, and a tight end stopper, and an elite run stopper: He's graded out to have a 75+ PFF grade against the run in eight of ten seasons.
If Baker really is available, the Patriots should jump at the opportunity to further upgrade their defensive backfield. Fans would certainly love to see it.