The Budda Baker Disrespect Continues Despite Top Play

For the second year in a row, Budda Baker is incredibly underrated in the sports media world.

In late June, CBS Sports released a list of their Top 10 safeties in the National Football League. A lot of familiar names were on the list, including Budda Baker, but it was headlined by Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard. Undeniably talented, and fabulous against the pass, Byard graded incredibly well and it didn’t hurt that he hauled in 5 interceptions in 2021.

What Cardinals fans should take exception to is the ranking of Baker who comes in at No. 6. It takes a lot of explaining to make sense of the fact that CBS decided there were five players better than the 26-year old superstar of the secondary.

Here are the players listed ahead of Baker:

1. Kevin Byard (TN)
2. Derwin James (LAC)
3. Jessie Bates II (CIN)
4. Justin Simmons (DEN)
5. Marcus Williams (BAL)
6. Budda Baker (ARI)

A “down year” for Budda is still impressive

Cardinals fans have come to expect a lot from Baker, and although he did not grade particularly well in 2021 according to PFF (65.0), he was was still incredibly impressive.

Here is a what a “down year” looks like for #3:

• 67 tackles
• 3 interceptions
• 2 pass breakups
• 2 sacks
• 229 yards allowed
• 1 touchdown allowed
• 78.6 passer rating allowed

This season, Baker was still selected to the Pro Bowl and was named to the Second Team All-Pro list.

That being said, we should be thankful Baker even made this Top 10 list at all considering he wasn’t on it in the summer of 2021. You heard that right, he was not even considered a top ten player at the position.

That is made particularly egregious when you look at what Baker’s monster 2020 campaign was like:

• 92 tackles
• 2 interceptions
• 4 pass breakups
• 1 forced fumble
• 36 stops (tackles that constitute a “failure” for the offense)

He was a Pro Bowl player in that season as well as a First Team All-Pro selection, the first such honor of his career.

In fact, when you look at Baker’s career in totality it is inexcusable to A.) exclude him from you list entirely as in 2021 or B.) to have at No. 6 behind players Justin Simmons and Marcus Williams. Absolutely no disrespect to those two very talented players, but Baker is in a different tier.

So this is what a Second Team All-Pro safety looks like?

No disrespect to Byard or Poyer, but @buddabaker32 is the best safety in the NFL.

– 98 tackles
– 3 INTs
– 2 sacks
– 7 passes defensed

Stats don't tell a complete story about what he brings to this defense. pic.twitter.com/gspLnEJFJD

— Kyler Burd (@AZCard_BurdsEye) January 14, 2022

All statistics provided by PFF.com