Arizona Cardinals

Five months after requesting a trade, Budda Baker is likely going to report to training camp with the Arizona Cardinals next week.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the five-time Pro Bowler is expected to be at camp on Tuesday "but still is seeking to be paid near the top of the safety market."

Schefter reported earlier in the offseason that Baker told the Cardinals in February he either wanted a new contract that would make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL or be traded to another team.

David Mulugheta, Baker's agent, said in a text to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo (h/t CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan) his client "never said" he wanted to be the highest-paid safety in the league.

"He just wants to be paid fairly for what he brings to the table," Garafolo said of the text exchange on June 30. "He told the team before the season that he wanted to go play for a contender and that he didn't want to be part of a rebuild. ... [I believe] it's time the Cardinals extend Budda if they believe he is a part of their future plans."

There was never any indication the Cardinals were seriously exploring trades involving Baker. One NFL executive recently told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler Baker is the "last guy you trade" because he's "true difference-maker" in the secondary.

The Cardinals are starting over in a lot of ways heading into the 2023 season. Head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort are replacing Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim, respectively.

DeAndre Hopkins was released in May, and Kyler Murray could miss at least half of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.

Baker is signed through 2024 with salaries of $13.1 million this season and $14.2 million next season. His $14.75 million average annual salary ranks sixth among all safeties.

A second-round pick by the Cardinals in 2017, Baker has appeared in 93 games over the past six seasons. He has recorded 650 combined tackles, 34 pass breakups, 32 tackles for loss and seven interceptions in his career.

After the Arizona Cardinals revamped their front office and coaching staff this offseason, star quarterback Kyler Murray is excited for a fresh start in the Valley.

And he believes his squad will be able to surprise a lot of people, even as he works his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered back in December.

"As far as the chip on my shoulder, like what type of energy I'm coming with into the season, I feel free in a sense, you know, especially with the change of upstairs and the organization," Murray said during a recent episode of "Cardinals Flight Plan," (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk). "I feel like they've done a great job since coming in, holding people accountable, [and] the leadership. They are really trying to build something from the ground up.

"The way we're going, the way I feel like, personally, the sky is the limit."

Murray recently said that his goal is to be back and ready to go by Week 1 of the upcoming season against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 10. However, that's still pretty unlikely given the injury.

The Pro Bowl signal caller's high hopes for the Cardinals comes amid some really low expectations for the organization in 2023. Coming off a 4-13 season in which they finished last in the NFC West, they are projected to have the highest chance of landing next year's No. 1 overall pick, according to ESPN.

With Murray likely to miss some time, coach Jonathan Gannon's era in Arizona will likely begin with Colt McCoy taking the first snaps of the season. The former Eagles' defensive coordinator will have his hands full as he tries to turn the organization around in his first season at the helm.

It also won't help Murray that next season's offense will be without superstar wideout DeAndre Hopkins after the franchise decided to release him back in May.

So, it'll be an uphill climb if the former Rookie of the Year wants to live up to his prediction.

Since being taken No. 1 overall out of Oklahoma, Murray has been one of the NFL's better, young quarterbacks, consistently showing his dynamism, whether it be with his arm or legs. However, he hasn't been too successful in the win-loss column, having never won more than nine games in a season.

He's 25-31-1 in four seasons and will be entering the final year of his rookie deal before his massive, five-year, $230.5 million extension kicks in 2024.

Kyler Murray's long-term future with the Arizona Cardinals might be uncertain coming off a torn ACL, but the two-time Pro Bowler knows where he wants to be when the 2023 regular season begins.

On an upcoming episode of Cardinals Flight Plan (h/t ArizonaSports.com), Murray said "ideally" he will be on the field in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders.

"When you look further down the line, it seems like we got a long way to go. Ideally, I want to be back by Week 1," Murray said in audio released from the episode that drops in full on Thursday. "That's the goal. At the end of the day, that's the goal, but I can't really look that far ahead. Got to take it one day at a time."

Per a 2019 study from the National Library of Medicine, the average return time for NFL players coming off a torn ACL was right around 50 weeks.

The start of the regular season is right around 38 weeks from the date Murray suffered the injury on Dec. 12. He has posted videos and discussed his rehab already this offseason in which it appears he's at least getting closer to full strength.

During an appearance on The Dave Pasch Podcast in February (h/t Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com), Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said Murray he thought Murray was ahead of schedule and could return "earlier than this midseason" and perhaps close to the beginning of the year.

Even though the Cardinals gave Murray a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension last offseason, their roster looks to be in bad shape that they could pick at or near the top of the draft in 2024.

Arizona also has an additional first-round pick next year as part of its 2023 draft-day trade with the Houston Texans. In a potentially loaded quarterback class that could feature Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Quinn Ewers, the potential to take a rookie and completely reset might be appealing to Arizona.

Another factor that could be considered is the Cardinals' current head coach is Jonathan Gannon and general manager is Monti Ossenfort. Both are entering their first season with the team and will attempt to shape the roster as they see fit.

Murray has been a very good quarterback at his best in the NFL. The 25-year-old threw for at least 3,700 yards, ran for at least 400 yards and accounted for at least 24 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons prior to 2022.

The Cardinals made the playoffs in 2021 before collapsing with a 4-13 record last season.

Arizona Cardinals star safety Budda Baker requested to be traded this offseason, but don't expect him to be moved anytime soon.

As ESPN's Jeremy Fowler compiled a ranking of the top 10 safeties in the NFL, one NFL executive said he believes it's unlikely that the Cardinals would be willing to trade one of the faces of their defense.

"That guy won't be going anywhere," the exec said of Baker, who landed fourth on the list. "That's the last guy you trade. A true difference-maker."

Baker, who is scheduled to make a base salary of $13.1 million during the 2023 season, put in his trade request in April because he's seeking a new deal worthy of his skill set.

The 27-year-old led the Cardinals with 111 total tackles while adding seven pass deflections, two interceptions and a forced fumble last season. He played in 15 games despite suffering shoulder and ankle injuries, and he earned his fifth career Pro Bowl selection.

Baker was ranked as the fourth-best safety in the league because of his unique ability to line up all over the field and be effective in any role.

"You can do so many things with him, and oh yeah, he's going to hit with the best of him," an NFC scout told Fowler. "He's a missile."

Two years ago, Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner was a fantasy football darling after racking up a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns.

Following a down year in 2022, Conner is embracing the opportunity to return to form in the new offense installed by first-year offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who has a run-first mentality after his years with the Cleveland Browns as tight ends coach and quarterbacks coach.

"It's exciting seeing the film and watching some of those guys get the lanes and running 10, 15 yards downfield, sometimes untouched," Conner told ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "So, yeah, it's exciting. I believe I'm a talented back and it's going to be a big year."

Weinfuss pointed out the stark contrast in Petzing's philosophy when compared to the Cardinals' offense under Kliff Kingsbury, noting that Arizona called designed runs on 34.8 percent of plays over the last four years, while Cleveland ran designed runs on 44 percent of its plays last season. Browns star running back Nick Chubb ranked third in the NFL with 1,525 yards while adding 12 touchdowns in 2022.

Conner, who rushed for 782 yards and seven scores in 2022, is elated to be in a new system where he will be featured more prominently.

"I love that," Conner said. "I just love it. I just love the possibilities of what it could be."

Fantasy football managers who draft Conner likely will love it, too.

The Arizona Cardinals could be trending in the wrong direction in 2023, but that may end up being just what the 2024 version of the franchise needs.

Arizona will have its own first-round pick and the Houston Texans' first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft after a trade that resulted in pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. going to the AFC South team on draft day this year.

ESPN's Jordan Reid projected those two picks to be the first two in the draft in his latest mock, which would give Arizona quite the opportunity to reset with an eye on the future.

And it did just that in the mock, selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 2 overall pick. That would immediately transform the aerial attack and give the team two foundational cornerstones to build around for years.

It would also lead to something of an awkward situation with quarterback Kyler Murray, who may need to be traded in such a scenario.

Regardless, the Cardinals' passing game could look quite different heading into the 2024 season if this is how the upcoming campaign unfolds.

The Arizona Cardinals announced that Vince Tobin, who served as the team's head coach from the 1996 to 2000 seasons, died Monday morning at age 79.

According to ESPN, a cause of death has not been disclosed publicly at this time.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill released the following statement:

Our deepest condolences go out to everyone who knew and loved Vince Tobin, and in particular his wife Kathy and their family. As head coach of the Cardinals, his steady leadership was a constant and a big part of the success the team enjoyed during his tenure. His football legacy with us is highlighted by the thrilling 1998 season, return to the postseason, and upset playoff win at Dallas. He will also be remembered for his instrumental role in key decisions like drafting Jake Plummer and Pat Tillman.

More than that, he was a consummate family man and always a class act who positively impacted everyone he encountered.

Plummer, who played quarterback under Tobin with the Cardinals, was among those in the NFL community who expressed their condolences on Twitter:

Tobin was 28-43 in his five seasons as Arizona's head coach, though he led the team to its first playoff since the 1947 season during the 1998 campaign.

His long coaching career included NFL stops with the Chicago Bears (1986-92), Indianapolis Colts (1994-95) and Detroit Lions (2001) as a defensive coordinator and the Green Bay Packers (2004) as a special assistant.

He also had stops in the college game, serving as Missouri's defensive coordinator during the 1971-76 seasons. And he coached in both the CFL as the BC Lions' defensive coordinator (1977-82) and the USFL as the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars' defensive coordinator (1983-85).

The Arizona Cardinals addressed an alleged domestic dispute between former team vice president Bill Bidwill Jr. and his wife on June 9.

"Two weeks ago, Nicole Kugler Bidwill was involved in an incident that resulted in her arrest," the Cardinals said in a statement to TMZ Sports. "This is a difficult time for their family but her husband and children love her very much and are thankful that she is currently receiving the help she needs. They ask that their family's privacy be respected as they deal with this challenging personal situation."

Bidwill allegedly told police in Paradise Valley, Arizona, that his wife had struck him "about a hundred times" before she allegedly broke a glass of beer over his head, per TMZ Sports. He told police that he briefly fought back in self-defense.

The alleged incident stemmed from an earlier argument they had. Bidwill said Nicole had been upset he wasn't home when workers came to install new carpet.

Police took Nicole into custody on one count of assault, but Bidwill told authorities he didn't want to press charges.

Bidwill is the son of late Cardinals owner Bill Sr. His brother, Michael, assumed the organization's chairman role following their father's death in 2019. Michael Bidwill is also the Cardinals' principal owner.

TMZ Sports noted Bill Jr. no longer holds an executive position with the franchise.

Despite being in recovery mode, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has his eyes on the prize.

The 2019 No. 1 pick suffered an ACL injury and tore his meniscus during a Dec. 12 loss to the New England Patriots and is likely to miss at least the start of the 2023 season as he continues his rehab.

Even though he's not ready to play, new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said the two-time Pro Bowler is making his presence felt.

"He's been here," Gannon said, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "He's been the first one in the building, been here after everybody goes, and I got to spend a lot of time with him during … OTA periods and just seeing how he's working."

Gannon elaborated by saying the the quarterback remains involved in the quarterback room and he can sense Murray's urgency to return.

"You can tell he's really, really locked in, how much he's itching to get back out there," Gannon said. "He's behind the huddles every play, so really locked in and really excited for his return and just his whole process."

Murray won the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year award and earned his Pro Bowl nods in 2020 and 2021. He led the Cardinals to a postseason appearance in 2021.

Colt McCoy is the presumed Week 1 starter for the Cardinals, but the 12-year veteran recognizes his role behind Murray once he returns from injury.

"Now, there's just a different operation and I think that part has been new for everybody, and Kyler's done a great job with that," McCoy said. "He's in the meetings, we talk a lot, we communicate, he asks good questions. The only thing he's not doing is going out on the field. He's doing all his rehab and getting better."