B/R makes intriguing suggestion for Jaguars while Tashaun Gipson remains suspended

Safety Tashuan Gipson got a suspension for violations of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. The Jacksonville Jaguars thought that he was going to be available after Week 6, but the league has yet to reinstate him. While they wait for Gipson's suspension to be lifted, the Jags should look at alternatives to bolster the safety position. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has an interesting suggestion.

Ballentine looked at every AFC team's needs ahead of Week 7 and suggested Jacksonville trade for Budda Baker, arguing that it could help Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke keep their job.

"It's hard to justify trading for a player with as much notoriety as Budda Baker with a 1-5 record, but the reality is that Pederson is probably coaching for his job and general manager Trent Baalke's seat has to be hot, too. The Jaguars secondary was a major problem Sunday, with Williams carving them up for four touchdowns.

Baker is in the final year of his contract with the Cardinals and could still be a cornerstone for the Jags defense for a few seasons. He's 29, but safeties tend to age well and Baker is playing at a high level for the Cards."

A second-round pick in the 2017 draft, Baker has been a mainstay of the Arizona Cardinals defense for more than seven seasons. However, he's set to become a free agent next year, and it doesn't look like he's part of his team's long-term plans. That makes the former Washington Husky an intriguing trade candidate ahead of the November 5 deadline.

Why the Jaguars must consider trading for Budda Baker

It's uncertain when the league will lift Tashaun Gipson's suspension, but the Jaguars need help at safety and can't afford to wait until he's reinstated. Trading for Budda Baker would be a reasonable course of action. Heck, it's not the first time someone has suggested it.

Andre Cisco was projected to break out in 2024 but has been underwhelming. To make matters worse, he got the spotlight because he openly questioned some of his teammates' efforts in the Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears. You could argue that that's what leaders do, but he should've done it privately.

On the other hand, sophomore Antonio Johnson's transition to safety isn't going great. A fifth-round pick in last year's draft, the former Texas A&M Aggie mostly lined up in the slot as a rookie but made the most of his opportunities. That led the coaching staff to move him to safety, his position in college. The switch isn't going great but the Jags currently don't have many alternatives. That's where Baker could come in handy.

Granted, trading for Baker won't solve the team's issues across the board but it would at least bring stability at safety. The issue is that the Jaguars may be reluctant to be buyers at this stage of the regular season. But for the sake of the argument, let's say Trent Baalke tries to acquire the six-time Pro Bowl nod to increase his chances of sticking around in 2025.

The Cardinals won't want anything less than a fourth-round pick and could ask for a third-rounder if teams express interest. The Jaguars have an extra third-round selection after swapping spots with the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 NFL draft, so they have the ammo to pull off a trade. Having said that, it's fair to wonder if Baalke would be willing to part ways with a third-round selection for a one-year rental.

Still, desperate times call for desperate measures, and Trent Baalke may consider trading for Budda Baker if it helps him increase his odds of remaining with the Jacksonville Jaguars beyond 2024.

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