Cardinals’ Budda Baker sees inaccuracies in his NFL Top 100 spot, Madden rating

GLENDALE — It’s that time of year again, when the NFL Top 100 list provides another layer for players to dive into as the preseason rolls along.

Throw in Madden ratings and watch the opinions fly.

Baker made a massive jump in this year’s top 100, leaping from No. 97 to inside the top 20 at No. 19.

As for his Madden rating, Baker saw that improve from 86 in 2020 to 93 to start the season. He finds himself behind the likes of teammates DeAndre Hopkins (98), Chandler Jones (94) and J.J. Watt (94).

You don’t have to look hard to see why Baker’s trending in a positive direction.

Over the course of 15 games last season, the safety recorded two interceptions, six passes defensed, 118 tackles and 2.0 sacks. He added three QB hits and a forced fumble to his 2020 resume. He was named an All-Pro first teamer and was selected to his third Pro Bowl.

The rating jumps are nice and all, but Baker’s not quite satisfied.

“I would say both of them are a little inaccurate,” Baker said Tuesday. “Madden rating I should be 99 I feel like and I should be in the top-5 of the top-100, but at the end of the day, it’s a blessing to see where these guys put me at.”

“But for me, I’m just thinking about this team and what we can do better to win each game, take it day by day, week by week and get to that playoff spot,” he added. “Because at the end of the day, that’s what we’re trying to do and go farther.”

Madden ratings are a fun topic, but the NFL Top 100 carries much more weight with players having the say instead of outside sources.

Baker may have seen one of the biggest jumps throughout the top 100 list, but that doesn’t mean he holds the top spot among his teammates.

That honor belongs to Hopkins, whose ranking has yet to be announced but is firmly inside the NFL’s top-10.

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