The Arizona Cardinals look poised to be sellers at the NFL trade deadline, particularly after falling to 1-7 with Sunday’s 31-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Cardinals have struggled to find much success this season and dealt with a plethora of issues beyond not having star quarterback Kyler Murray out there. That reality leaves Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort with plenty of decisions to make ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
Arizona Cardinals Trade Deadline Moves
Trade OT Kelvin Beachum
If the Cardinals decide to be sellers at the deadline, which seems to be their most logical course of action at this point, Kelvin Beachum is among the players they could consider moving elsewhere.
The veteran offensive lineman is in his 12th NFL season and has made more than 140 starts over his journeyman career. Beachum started every game for Arizona last season and has been a reliable option up front for much of his career, starting 15 or more games in six of the last seven seasons.
He has seen sparing action so far this season behind left tackle D.J. Humphries but could bolster any number of teams’ offensive line rooms. The New Orleans Saints are one team that could target some help up front, as could the New York Jets, particularly after their win on Sunday.
Beachum’s reasonably priced contract at just $1.21 million in base salary for next season — and below that this year — would also make him relatively easy to acquire financially.
All of that makes him a player Arizona could potentially get some value for at the deadline.
Trade S Budda Baker
Arizona’s safety Budda Baker is another player who seems to hold more value elsewhere than with the Cardinals currently.
The veteran safety is now in his seventh NFL season, all with Arizona, and has been a Pro Bowl selection each of the last four seasons alongside an AP All-Pro nod in 2020. He racked up 111 tackles (75 solo), seven pass breakups, and two interceptions in 15 appearances last season, all starts.
MORE: Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart
Baker missed significant time earlier this season after he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but he returned to play last week and again Sunday after last appearing in Week 1.
Baker would command significant value on the trade market as a proven option to bolster contenders’ secondaries. Although there may not be a massive need for safeties, the Los Angeles Chargers are one potential buyer that could use help at the position, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens could also look to improve their depth there.
At any rate, there would likely be a market for Baker that makes him worth moving on from — if Arizona decides to do so.
Trade WR Marquise Brown
With his contract set to expire this offseason, Brown is certainly a player the Cardinals should at least consider moving at the deadline.
The fifth-year wide receiver has been a productive player since entering the league in 2019 as a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens. He caught 67 passes for 709 yards and three touchdowns in 12 appearances last season, including 10 starts.
Brown notched 32 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns through seven starts in 2023 as quarterback Josh Dobbs has struggled for consistency this season in place of Kyler Murray. Brown caught six passes for 33 yards and one touchdown in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens.
A large base salary of more than $13.4 million this year, paired with the fact that this is the final season of Brown’s contract, could make him a bit more difficult to move to some teams. Still, the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Jets are among squads in the market for help at wide receiver that could at least be interested in Brown.
Getting some value out of Brown before he hits free agency this summer, even if it means covering some of his remaining salary, would certainly be beneficial for Arizona.
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