Arizona Cardinals: Move up to get Budda Baker
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals knew who they wanted early in the second round and traded up to get him
The Arizona Cardinals wasted little time Friday afternoon near the top of the second round to get the guy they wanted. They selected safety Budda Baker from Washington.
Many people thought the Cardinals would have gone quarterback in the second round, even staying at 45. Once they moved up, it seemed like a sure thing.
However the Cardinals recognized that safety needed to be addressed quickly. It was on the Cardinals list of needs.
The Cardinals traded their second and fourth round pick this year and their 2018 fourth round pick to the Chicago Bears to move up and get Baker. He is a two-time All-Pac 12 player.
The Cardinals must really like what they see from Baker. Why wouldn’t they? He had 138 career tackles in three seasons at Washington.
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He also had five interceptions, four sacks, and 18 passes defensed. His numbers prove he is worth the pick. The big question will be how will the Cardinals use him.
What do Cardinals fans think? It’s a mixed bag.
Budda Baker baby!!! Let's go!!! #Birdgang
— Erasmo Lamas (@erasmo2416) April 28, 2017
@buddabaker32 welcome to the #birdgang, sincerely a diehard Cards fan in Seattle!
— Dylan Carey (@DylanCarey11) April 28, 2017
I'm surprised AZ didn't take a QB but Baker is a faster Tony Jefferson so I can't complain
— Andy Kwong (@akwong31) April 28, 2017
Time will tell whether or not the Cardinals made a mistake in passing on a quarterback. However it would seem the Cardinals were not in love with any quarterback in this draft.
Baker is just what the Cardinals needed though. He could make fans forget about losing Tony Jefferson in a hurry.