2017 NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals final draft grade
Budda Baker
Safety, Washington
Baker fell out of the first round because he is under 5’10”. However, 31 teams are going to regret that and the Cardinals traded up to nab their man in Budda Baker out of Washington.
Baker is a safety by definition but he is really another swiss army knife that gives this defense a lot of versatility. He actually compares to Tyrann Mathieu in how he was schemed in Washington and the thought of the two together is almost maddening to opposing coaches.
Baker can do the same things as Mathieu off of the edge. He can shake lineman and attack the run and the quarterback with speed and ferocity. He has the foot quickness to line up with slot receivers and the tackling ability to bang in the box as well. However, he also has the ability to play deep and to keep things in front of him.
Size aside there is so much to like in the game of Baker and what he can potentially bring to the Cardinals defense. Matthieu and Baker can play deep and in the slot. They have a great nickel that is very in line with today’s game and it was worth the trade up who deserved to be drafted higher but didn’t because of his size.