Budda Baker is an American football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington, and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
In the 2017 National Football League Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Baker in the second round (36th overall).
The Arizona Cardinals traded their second round (45th overall), fourth round (119th overall), and seventh round (197th overall) picks in the 2017 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears in order to move up in the second round and draft Baker with the 36th overall pick.
The Bears received the Cardinals’ second round (45th overall), fourth round (119th overall), and seventh round (197th overall) picks in exchange.
Additionally, the Cardinals obtained a seventh-round pick from the Chicago Bears, which was ranked 221st overall.
He was taken with the 44th overall pick in 2017, making him the fourth safety taken overall and one of three defensive backs from Washington to be taken overall, along with Kevin King and Sidney Jones.
Baker was given a deal for $6.83 million by the Arizona Cardinals on May 25, along with a signing bonus of $3.10 million and a guarantee of $3.88 million of the total value of the contract.
Is Budda Baker a strong safety?
Ahead of the 2021 NFL season, Baker was projected to be the third-best safety in the league, trailing only Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and Denver’s Justin Simmons in the standings.
More than 50 different people, including coaches, front office staff, scouts, and players, contributed to the process of determining the order.
The unnamed analysts who were quoted in the ESPN article had nothing but glowing things to say about Baker, who was given a ranking of No. 16 in the NFL by PFF.