It’s hard to get some respect in the NFL, especially if you happen to play for the much-maligned Arizona Cardinals. Take Budda Baker, for example. In 2024, he racked up 164 tackles, his most since joining the team in 2017. 95 of them were solo tackles, the second-most in the NFL in 2024!
While he’d like that number to go down—more on that, later—it showed that he was a defensive monster, giving opposing offenses nightmares whenever they saw him coming.
Would that make him elite? Would that make people think his reportedly $54 million, three-year extension was worth it? Sorta. Some people still think Baker has a way to go before he’s considered a Top 5 player in the NFL.
Budda Baker Is No. 8 In PFF Safety Rankings Ahead Of 2025 Season
One such person is veteran Pro Football Focus writer Zoltán Buday, who published a ranking of the top 32 safetys ahead of the upcoming season. Baker did crack the top 10, coming in at No. 8, and Buday did give Budda his props:
“Baker put together arguably the best year of his career in his eighth NFL season. The Washington product logged more than 1,000 snaps for the first time since 2021, and he earned a career-high 77.8 PFF overall grade that ranked 12th among all safeties.”
The PFF vet also noted how Baker was “especially productive against the run,” which earned him a PFF grade of 11.2% of run plays, which was “his highest rate since his rookie season.
The players ahead of Baker are Derwin James Jr. (Los Angeles Chargers), Kerby Joseph (Detroit Lions), Biran Branch (Detroit Lions), Antoine Winfield Jr (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Jessie Bates III (Atlanta Falcons) and Xavier McKinney (Green Bay Packers). Buday gave Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens the No. 1 ranking, citing his “versatility” and being the only safety to earn “at least an 88.0 PFF grade in coverage, run defense and pass rushing.
There was one more Cardinals player in this safety ranking: Jalen Thompson, who experienced the “damning with faint praise treatment.” Buday wrote how Thompson “has not necessarily stood out over the years,” but he has been “very consistent and dependable.”
Baker Wants To Cook
In 2024, Baker had 12.5 stuffs for 11 yards, five pass defended, one forced fumble and two sacks. He didn’t record any interceptions, though, and hasn’t recorded any since 2022.
Cardinals beat reporter Theo Mackie tweeted on May 20 that Baker wasn’t happy that he finished 2024 with 164 tackles, since it meant he wasn’t available for bigger defensive plays. Baker has been “talking sack to the new D-Line additions” to help him get that number down.
Baker reportedly said he’s “had 100-plus tackles a lot of years. I wouldn’t say I like that. I want to get interceptions.”
Baker’s load might be lighter this season. The Cardinals focused heavily on the defense with the 2025 draft, picking up defensive tackle Walter Nolen III, defensive linebackers Jordan Burch, Cody Simon (as well as corners Will Johnson and Denzel Burke). They also signed Josh Sweat, Mykal Walker and Akeem Davis-Gaither and re-signed L.J. Collier.
With these offseason moves freeing up Baker, he can focus more on breaking up plays and interceptions. It's also a chance to show how he’s among the best in the league, and not just the top 10.