Cardinals’ Budda Baker comes in at No. 19 in NFL’s Top 100 players

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is regarded as one of the best at his position in the league, and Sunday it was revealed that he was voted as the highest rated safety by his peers for 2021.

.@buddabaker32 is legit everywhere.

📺: #NFLTop100 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/ML2XXwqp1A

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) August 22, 2021

Similar to his quarterback, Baker also made a colossal jump from No. 97 in 2020, moving up 78 spots in the rankings. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray jumped 51 spots.

This is the second consecutive season Baker has made the top 100 list.

As the top rated safety, Baker is the highest ranked Cardinal to be named so far. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has yet to be named, will likely secure a top-10 spot to be announced later this week.

In his fourth season, Baker had 118 tackles (90 solo), six passes defended, one forced fumble and recorded his first two career interceptions.

His 118 tackles ranked 22nd in the league across all positions and second amongst safeties behind the Buffalo Bills’ Jordan Poyer.

Bakers role in the Cardinals’ defense is vital because he is asked to do a little bit of everything, whether that is rushing the passer, playing man coverage or being the deepest safety on the field.

Baker joins offseason acquisition J.J. Watt (No. 66), Kyler Murray (No. 39) and most likely Hopkins to be named later.