As Budda Baker was doing his gorilla crawl, celebrating a sack on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Jalen Thompson let out a scream.
It was a scream of joy.
"It's a really dope feeling," Thompson said. "As a DB group, we're all a family and we're all brothers. One guy makes a play, you're going to see the next guy hyped up, energized, and ready to go out there and make out own play."
That was the case last Sunday. During a season when neither have really been able to stuff the stat sheet, the duo was watching each other have their best performance of the year. Early in the first quarter, Thompson came flying off the edge and had a strip-sack fumble recovered by Walter Nolen III for a touchdown. He also had a pass breakup in the end zone.
For the first time since 2022, Baker had an interception. He also split a sack with Calais Campbell.
"Budda has pretty much taught me everything I know in the NFL, on and off the field with just being a pro," Thompson said. "Our chemistry is the best there is. I feel like we go out there, and we feed off each other's energy."
This weekend against the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay has one of the top safeties in Antoine Winfield Jr. But few teams have a safety tandem like the Cardinals do with Baker and Thompson.
Opposing offenses have noted that when they watch tape, it starts with highlighting Baker. Defensive backs coach Patrick Toney said the Jaguars nicknamed Baker "Waldo" heading into last weekend's game -- as in "Where's Waldo?" The Jaguars were always focused on finding the Pro Bowler.
According to TruMedia, Baker has lined up in 16 different locations on the field. Thompson has also lined up in 16 different spots, which Baker believes has opened up more opportunities for the defense.
"I feel like it always has posed a threat and now he's getting into those situations where's doing multiple things," Baker said, adding how Thompson played the nickel corner spot in place of Garrett Williams when he was on Injured Reserve. "He knows football. He's been playing it for a long time and he's continuing to get better. I'm very excited for his future and he's still young. Sky is the limit for JT for sure."
The future of Thompson with the Cardinals is a question that will be posed once the offseason begins.
After seven seasons with the Cardinals, Thompson's contract is set to expire. GM Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals will have to decide whether they want to bring back Thompson or pass the torch to Rabbit Taylor-Demerson.
"I'm not looking into the future and I'm just trying to stay grounded and keep doing my job," Thompson said. "I need to keep playing fast, keep playing hard, and everything will work itself out."
It would be tough to replicate the connection between Baker and Thompson on the field. For a defense that is as complex as Nick Rallis', the usage of multiple safeties is vital.
"I call him my little bro because he went to Washington State and I'm a (University of Washington) Husky," Baker said. "It's a blessing for me and him to be together for all these years because I know what he likes and he knows what I like."
Baker said the duo will give each other looks that he could tell mess with the quarterback. It's what allowed both of them to get home against the Jaguars.
It's what they hope can happen some more over these next few games.
"Last week was my second career sack, which feels great and feels like I'm living up to that versatile name," Thompson said. "But once you get that first big play out of the way, it's all from there and it's up. We have to be starting fast and finishing that same way."
