Tag: Budda Baker

Budda Baker played with Isaiah Simmons-like versatility in 2019

He is named the underappreciated member of the Cardinals by NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund.

When the Arizona Cardinals selected Isaiah Simmons eighth overall in the NFL draft last month, versatility was discussed at length. He played a number of positions for Clemson last year.

The Cardinals actually already had a player on their defense with similar versatility. That would be safety Budda Baker.

NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund used analytics to determine the most underappreciated player on each team in the NFC. Baker made the list for the Cardinals, despite being a Pro Bowler.

He played all over the field for the Cardinals last season.

I challenge you to find a player who was more versatile than Baker in 2019. Next Gen Stats shows the following snap distribution for Baker (this is about to become a meaty sentence): 647 snaps at safety, 174 as an outside linebacker, 155 as a slot corner, 39 at inside linebacker, 31 as an edge defender, 12 at left corner and 10 on the right. That’s 1,068 snaps that pretty much required him to be a defensive coordinator on the field. My spatial model shows that Baker’s ability to stop and/or limit runs when he was playing safety ranked 12th best in the NFL last season. With their smart offseason acquisitions, including No. 8 overall pick Isaiah Simmons, who also has a versatile college resume, the Cardinals’ defense figures to be much more efficient in 2020.

Baker was fantastic against the run. He obviously isn’t too underappreciated because he made it to the Pro Bowl. He still has room for improvement, too, as he still has not had an interception in his career (although he has had one in the preseason and one in the Pro Bowl).

With Baker and Simmons on the field, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will have two players who can do a bunch of things. Baker is great against the run. Simmons is expected to be great in coverage. It is a perfect blend.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 267

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Ep. 266

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Pro Bowler Budda Baker can be even better, says DC Vance Joseph

Baker still does not have an interception in his career.

While the Arizona Cardinals had a defensive unit in 2019 that was one of the worst in the league, there were some individual bright spots. Linebacker Jordan Hicks was one of the league’s most productive players, while linebacker Chandler Jones and safety Budda Baker were both named to the Pro Bowl.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph believes there is even more room for growth for Baker.

“I thought Budda Baker had a hell of a year last year,” he said in a video conference recently to reporters. “Obviously, he made the Pro Bowl. He made the Pro Bowl without making one interception, so I think he has room to grow as a high safety and as a quarters guy.”

Baker still has not had a regular-season interception in his career. He had one in the Pro Bowl game itself and also has picked off a pass in the preseason.

He is a heavy hitter in the run game and productive around the line of scrimmage. He also makes plays on balls, having broken up 14 passes in his career. He just hasn’t intercepted a pass.

Adding that element to his game will make him a complete safety and one that will command a lot of money as a free agent next offseason.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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Budda Baker paying no attention to contract status

“For me, I don’t pay attention to any of that type of stuff,” he said. “I know that if I play my game and do what I can do every single day then all that stuff will come in time.

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is not going to a free agent this year but, entering his fourth season in the league, he will enter the final year of his contract. He is eligible for a contract extension. Some believe the team would like to ink him to a long-term deal.

It doesn’t appear that process has begun yet and Baker isn’t worried about it. He trusts that things will take care of themselves as long as he keeps playing at a high level.

“For me, I don’t pay attention to any of that type of stuff,” he said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “I know that if I play my game and do what I can do every single day then all that stuff will come in time. Right now, I’m just focused on this season, focused on getting everyone together and getting better.”

Baker is a two-time Pro Bowler. He made it as a special teams player as a rookie and then was named as a Pro Bowl starter at safety this year.

Free agency begins just under two weeks and the Cardinals have roughly $40 million to spend. Giving Baker a contract extension will not save the Cardinals any money.

Traditionally, when the Cardinals have a young player due a contract extension before his rookie deal is up, that extension doesn’t happen until at least training camp.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 260

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Ep. 259

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Cardinals offseason positional outlook: Safeties

A look back at 2019 and ahead at the offseason questions the Cardinals have at safety and what could be coming at the position.

We have nearly reached the end of our offseason positional reviews. Now we look at the group of safeties, which was believed to be a strength, then was a liability and then developed again into a strength.

We will go over what happened in 2019, address offseason questions and discuss what is coming at the position in 2020.

2019 review

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

When the season began, safety was supposed to be a position of strength. With Budda Baker and veteran D.J. Swearinger, it was supposed to be enough to help weather the issues at cornerback with Patrick Peterson’s suspension and Robert Alford’s broken leg.

Swearinger’s play completely fell off. He was cut after four games it was so bad. That left rookies Deionte Thompson and Jalen Thompson to play.

They split time until Jalen eventually became an every-down player and looks like he could be a starter moving forward.

Baker earned a Pro Bowl starter berth after leading the NFL in solo tackles.

By the end of the season, it was the defense’s best position group.

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Cardinals’ Budda Baker hopes to see Antonio Brown back in NFL

“Hopefully he can get back into the league because the league is definitely better with A.B.,” he told TMZ.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown has burned a few bridges in the league in terms of teams with his antics over the last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and off the field, but it would appear he still has support around the league from players.

One such player who would like to see Brown back in the NFL is Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker.

“A lot of teams could use Antonio Brown. He’s a great player,” he said, according to TMZ Sports. “Hopefully he can get back into the league because the league is definitely better with A.B.”

That is what anyone should expect another player to say. Players support fellow players. He even said the Cardinals would “of course” welcome Brown into the locker room on their team.

The question is whether or not the organization would go for it. It almost certainly would not.

When asked if he could imagine Kyler Murray throwing to Brown and Larry Fitzgerald, Baker simply said, “that would be crazy.”

We can take that more than one way. It would be crazy cool or it could be just regular crazy to add him to the team.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 257

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Ep. 256

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Budda Baker snags end zone interception to keep AFC from scoring in 1st drive

He keeps the AFC from scoring in their first drive of the game.

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker has one notable stat missing in his career. He has not yet had an interception in the regular season.

He had one on Sunday.

Playing in the Pro Bowl for the second time, the first time for his play at safety, he made the first big defensive play of the game.

Led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, the AFC drove down the field on their first possession and were in the red zone. Jackson attempted a pass on 3rd-and-10 from the 10-yard line to Cleveland Browns receiver Jarvis Landry and Baker picked it off.

He caught it five yards deep in the end zone and returned it 15 yards to the 10-yard line.

The NFC scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession, giving them a 7-0 lead.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 256

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Ep. 255

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Cardinals’ Budda Baker sees bigger numbers for himself in 2020

He had volume tackle numbers in 2019. Can he add more impact stats like picks, pass breakups and tackles for loss?

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career. This year, it is his first as a safety. he was an impact special teams player as a rookie in 2017 and was recognized as such.

In his third season, he put up big volume numbers, piling up 147 tackles and leading the NFL in solo stops.

He did it playing in his third defensive system in as many years. He played more in the box as a rookie late in the season after Tyvon Branch got injured under defensive coordinator James Bettcher. In 2018 in Steve Wilks’ system with DC Al Holcomb, he played in the slot and in the box, sometimes as a linebacker. In 2019, it was under Vance Joseph, playing his more natural position.

In 2020, he expects to be even better than he was this year, especially since it will be the same system and likely the same role.

“I’ve always had to work in a different scheme, always worked at a different position,” Baker said, according to Darren Urban for the official team site. “I’m just excited to be in the same defense consecutively, because I’ve never had that. Personally, I think my stats will be a lot better. Keeping the same defense, it can only get better.”

He still does not have an interception in his career. He broke up six passes and had seven tackles for loss. Ideally, his total tackle numbers will decrease, as better play from the Cardinals’ defensive front would result in more tackles by the linemen and linebackers. However, to take the next step, he needs more impact plays — pass breakups, interceptions, forced fumbles and tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Baker’s defensive coordinator loves how he plays and believes the team would be unstoppable with more players on the team playing like him.

Baker enters the final year of his contract. Another big year will land him a big payday.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 256

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Ep. 255

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Chandler Jones named First-Team All-Pro for 2nd time

He received the most votes of any edge defender. Safety Budda Baker also received votes.

The Associated Press announced the All-Pro team for 2019. The Arizona Cardinals had one player make the cut and, not surprisingly, it is pass rusher Chandler Jones.

Jones and Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt were the two edge defenders named to the first team.

Jones was second in the NFL with 19 sacks, trailing only Shaquil Barrett of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He set a franchise record and twice had four sacks in a game, only the third player in NFL history to do so and the first to do it in 33 years. He also led the NFL with eight forced fumbles and seven strip-sacks.

Jones led edge defenders with 32 votes. Tampa Bay’s Barrett made the second team with 18 votes.

Jones also received two All-Pro votes at linebacker.

Jones was named defensive player of the week twice and defensive player of the month once.

Cardinals safety Budda Baker received four All-Pro votes at safety.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 254

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Ep. 253:

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Eddie Jackson’s contract extension has implications for Cardinals, Budda Baker

Baker, also a two-time Pro Bowler, will be a free agent in 2021 and can sign an extension this offseason.

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker will not be a free agent this offseason. He will be in 2021. The two-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL in solo tackles and was fourth in total tackles must be paying attention the contract extension that fellow safety Eddie Jackson got.

Jackson, who plays for the Chicago Bears, just signed a four-year, $58.4 million contract extension with $33 million in guaranteed money, his agency announced.

Jackson has been named to the Pro Bowl each of his last two seasons. He was an All-Pro in 2018. He entered the league the same year Baker did.

He is now the highest-paid safety in NFL history.

Baker has not put up the same kind of numbers as Jackson, who has 10 career interceptions and five career defensive touchdowns. However, this contract will serve as a blueprint.

Baker, coming off his third season, is now eligible to negotiate a contract extension. The Cardinals could try to lock him up this offseason or let things play out one more season.

If Baker has another season like 2019, keeping him around will not be cheap.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 254

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Ep. 253:

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2019 Cardinals awards

Who get the superlatives for the Cardinals this year?

The Arizona Cardinals’ season is over. Some players will get league awards. But it is time to recognize the players who were the best. So let us see who gets the awards for the Cardinals.

MVP: Kyler Murray

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This is an obvious award. Murray was given the reins of the team and he exceeded expectations. He was the team’s leader. He led them to wins. He was their best offensive player and most important player overall.

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