The Baltimore Ravens are watching from afar as the Arizona Cardinals lock down one of the league’s best safeties. Budda Baker just signed a three-year, $54 million extension, solidifying his role as the heart of Arizona’s defense while becoming the highest-paid safety ever on a third contract.
Meanwhile, the Ravens are stuck with Marcus Williams, a five-year, $70 million investment that hasn’t come close to paying off. Once expected to be Baltimore’s answer in the secondary, Williams has now been benched for two straight games, with younger players taking over his role. Seeing Baker thrive while Williams sits is a glaring reminder of a mistake the Ravens would love to forget.
Ravens pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt on Marcus Williams, who has gone from a starting safety to a healthy scratch: pic.twitter.com/jlD4lRIxAW
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 3, 2024
It’s impossible to compare these two situations without feeling like Baltimore missed the mark. The Cardinals prioritized keeping their defensive cornerstone, while the Ravens’ big-money signing from 2022 has turned into dead weight.
Budda Baker's contract extension highlights Ravens’ $70 million Marcus Williams mistake
Baker’s new deal, worth $18 million annually, isn’t cheap, but it’s paying for elite production. This season, Baker leads all defensive backs in tackles and continues to anchor Arizona’s defense.
At 28 years old, he’s already a six-time Pro Bowler and remains one of the league’s most consistent and impactful safeties.
On the other hand, the Ravens committed $70 million over five years to Williams, and the return has been underwhelming. He missed significant time with injuries in his first two seasons and has now been benched entirely. Despite carrying an $18 million cap hit this year, Williams hasn’t played a snap in two weeks, as Ar’Darius Washington has taken over his starting spot.
This isn’t just about Williams—it’s about Baltimore’s inability to get value out of a major investment. The Ravens built their reputation on savvy roster moves, but this one feels like a pretty decent swing-and-miss. Arizona, meanwhile, recognized what they had in Baker and locked him down.
The Baltimore Ravens are left with a tough pill to swallow as Budda Baker thrives in Arizona. Elite safeties are worth the investment when you get it right, but Baltimore’s decision to bet big on Marcus Williams has backfired in every way imaginable. Watching Baker get rewarded while Williams slowly fades into irrelevance is the kind of contrast that sticks with a front office.
Arizona got it right. Baltimore didn’t. And now, they’re stuck paying for it—literally.