Budda Baker was all about the day to day, all season insisting his stellar play had nothing to do with his impending free agency and noting he didn't worry about accolades either.
Trey McBride spent the season piling up franchise records and then deflecting credit to the coaches and quarterback Kyler Murray in how he got there.
They were both noticed, however, enough that each were voted on to the NFC Pro Bowl squad for 2024. Baker was named the starter at strong safety; McBride one of the picks in a loaded tight end room.
The Cardinals also got three alternates: kick returner DeeJay Dallas, left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., and kicker Chad Ryland.
Baker, who made his seventh Pro Bowl and sixth in a row at safety, joins wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and defensive backs Patrick Peterson (8), Larry Wilson (8), and Roger Wehrli (7) as the only players in franchise history with seven Pro Bowl selections.
"It's a blessing to be here with Arizona and try and stay as consistent as I can be," Baker said. "Personally, it's head down, take it one day at a time. That's how I truly feel. These accolades are a blessing. Some people don't make a Pro Bowl once in their career. For me to get seven, that's special."
Baker leads the Cardinals with 155 tackles, 92 solo tackles and a career-high nine tackles for loss this season. His 155 tackles lead all NFL defensive backs and are the most by any Cardinal since Pat Tillman in 2000.
It's no wonder the Cardinals made sure to sign him to a three-year contract extension last month.
Baker is also one of eight finalists for the NFL's Art Rooney Sportsmanship award.
McBride too is up for a league award, the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year, after being named the Cardinals' WPMOY for his work in the community as well as his play on the field. McBride's play on the field is what got him to the Pro Bowl, however, and it was deserved in his third pro season.
"I think he's one of the best tight ends in the league," Baker said.
With a game to go, McBride has already shattered his own franchise record for tight end catches in a season (104) and reached 1,000 yards for the first time in his career (1.081). McBride is only the second Cardinals tight end to reach 1,000 yards in a season. The other one, Hall of Famer Jackie Smith, is the only other Cardinals tight end to ever make a Pro Bowl.
"This has been a huge goal of mine, since I was a little kid, to make a Pro Bowl and be considered one of the best in the NFL," McBride said. "It's something I have been striving for."
With 214 receptions – again, with one game to go – McBride has a chance to surpass both George Kittle (216) and Jimmy Graham (215) to have the most receptions in his first three seasons among NFL tight ends all-time.
The Pro Bowl games, a week-long "celebration" of NFC vs. AFC in Orlando, Florida will hold various competitions and end with a 7-on-7 flag football game on Feb. 2.
