Cardinals’ Budda Baker earns 7th straight NFL Top 100 nod

Death, taxes and Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker finding his way onto the NFL Top 100.

For the seventh straight year, the safety found himself among the top 100 players in the game at No. 75.

He fell 41 spots from last year’s ranking at No. 34.

No. 75 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@AZCardinals S Budda Baker! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/dqWNvauhc6

— NFL (@NFL) July 8, 2026

“His motor is something I’ve never really seen before,” Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said in the video revealing Baker’s standing in the ranking. “I would see it in the greats just watching Troy Polamalu or some of the great safeties. It’s hard to game plan for him. He’s a linebacker, he’s a safety, he’s a corner.”

Baker is entering his 10th NFL season with the Cardinals after racking up 120 tackles, an interception and five passes defensed in 16 starts. He’s notched at least 100 tackles in six seasons and has eight Pro Bowl nods.

The veteran safety joins pass rusher Josh Sweat as two of the first Cardinals revealed in this year’s ranking.

Sweat came in at No. 78 on Tuesday after landing at No. 95 a year earlier.

Where has Budda Baker landed in previous NFL Top 100 rankings?

A full look at where the safety has ranked in the NFL Top 100 over the years:

– 2026: No. 75
– 2025: No. 34
– 2024: No. 89
– 2023: No. 73
– 2022: No. 67
– 2021: No. 19
– 2020: No. 97

What other Cardinals could crack the NFL Top 100 this year?

The big name to watch moving forward is tight end Trey McBride following his meteoric season last year.

Wide receiver Michael Wilson could also find his way into the ranking after his breakout 2025.

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