Budda Baker Signs Contract With Arizona Cardinals

Rookie safety Budda Baker has signed his rookie contract with the Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have been working hard to get all of their 2017 draft picks under contract. One more can be added to the list of done deals. Second round draft pick Budda Baker has now signed his rookie deal with the team.

Baker was 36th overall pick this year, and the Cardinals were willing to trade up to get him. The former Washington Husky was one of the more talented players in the entire draft, but his lack of size, at just 5’10” hurt his stock. Some analysts thought he was worthy of a first round selection, but he fell into round two, and the Cardinals pounced.

Baker is a versatile player who can play safety, slot corner, and even boundary corner should he be needed there. He’s an athletic specimen who plays the ball well, and finds himself in the right spot more often than not. In his final season at Washington, he recorded five passes defensed, two interceptions, 70 tackles, 9 1/2 for a loss, and 3 sacks.

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The Cardinals have experience with undersized defensive backs. They drafted Tyrann Mathieu in the third round in 2013, and he has been a key member of the defense since then. Baker could be used in many of the same ways as his new teammate.

Some fans remain skeptical of Baker’s selection, reasoning that the team needed a full-time cornerback, or a quarterback, more than they needed an undersized safety. However, the Cardinals clearly coveted Baker more than a quarterback to be a backup, and had Baker graded higher than any of the remaining cornerbacks.

Baker’s four-year contract leaves just first round pick Haason Reddick as the team’s lone rookie without a deal.