A story surfaced last week that Budda Baker has asked to be traded. The Arizona safety is looking for a new contract, and maybe he's also cognizant that the Cardinals are looking at a rebuilding type of year. Baker would be a great addition to a team, although those in IDP leagues might be happy if he stays put.
Baker in Arizona's defense has been one of the most productive safeties in the league since being selected in the second round back in 2017. (And one of the very best: an All-Pro twice, and selected to the Pro Bowl in five of his six seasons in the league.) Especially for tackles, which is the lifeblood of defensive players in most fantasy leagues that score the position.
Baker has gone over 100 total tackles in four of his last five seasons. That includes 118 a year ago, which is the 12th-best total from all defensive backs in those seasons, and 147 in 2019 -- the top total by any safety or cornerback in that time period. Really productive guy.
TOP TACKLERS, DEFENSIVE BACKS (2018-2022) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Season | Solo | Ast | Comb |
Budda Baker | 2019 | 104 | 43 | 147 |
Jalen Pitre | 2022 | 99 | 48 | 147 |
Eric Reid | 2019 | 97 | 33 | 130 |
Jonathan Owens | 2022 | 84 | 41 | 125 |
Minkah Fitzpatrick | 2021 | 84 | 40 | 124 |
Julian Love | 2022 | 79 | 45 | 124 |
Jordan Poyer | 2020 | 91 | 33 | 124 |
Richie Grant | 2022 | 70 | 53 | 123 |
Antoine Bethea | 2018 | 100 | 21 | 121 |
Jalen Thompson | 2021 | 79 | 42 | 121 |
John Johnson | 2018 | 82 | 37 | 119 |
Budda Baker | 2020 | 90 | 28 | 118 |
Derwin James | 2021 | 75 | 43 | 118 |
Landon Collins | 2019 | 78 | 39 | 117 |
Logan Ryan | 2021 | 77 | 40 | 117 |
Johnathan Abram | 2021 | 64 | 52 | 116 |
Rayshawn Jenkins | 2022 | 73 | 43 | 116 |
Jamal Adams | 2018 | 86 | 29 | 115 |
Derwin James | 2022 | 64 | 51 | 115 |
Vonn Bell | 2020 | 67 | 47 | 114 |
Harrison Smith | 2021 | 83 | 31 | 114 |
Shawn Williams | 2019 | 80 | 34 | 114 |
Jordan Fuller | 2021 | 63 | 50 | 113 |
Logan Ryan | 2019 | 73 | 40 | 113 |
Budda Baker | 2022 | 75 | 36 | 111 |
Jessie Bates III | 2018 | 73 | 38 | 111 |
Kevin Byard | 2020 | 79 | 32 | 111 |
Antoine Bethea | 2019 | 81 | 29 | 110 |
Jalen Thompson | 2022 | 79 | 31 | 110 |
Shawn Williams | 2018 | 81 | 29 | 110 |
Jessie Bates III | 2020 | 78 | 31 | 109 |
Adrian Phillips | 2020 | 76 | 33 | 109 |
Kevin Byard | 2022 | 69 | 39 | 108 |
L'Jarius Sneed | 2022 | 75 | 33 | 108 |
Tracy Walker | 2021 | 74 | 34 | 108 |
Eric Weddle | 2019 | 69 | 39 | 108 |
Xavier Woods | 2021 | 72 | 36 | 108 |
Jeremy Chinn | 2021 | 75 | 32 | 107 |
Jordan Poyer | 2019 | 71 | 36 | 107 |
Grant Delpit | 2022 | 72 | 33 | 105 |
Terrell Edmunds | 2019 | 71 | 34 | 105 |
Derwin James | 2018 | 75 | 30 | 105 |
John Johnson | 2020 | 73 | 32 | 105 |
Jaquan Brisker | 2022 | 73 | 31 | 104 |
Anthony Harris | 2020 | 58 | 46 | 104 |
Tracy Walker | 2019 | 82 | 21 | 103 |
Adrian Amos | 2022 | 73 | 29 | 102 |
Budda Baker | 2018 | 78 | 24 | 102 |
Kenny Moore | 2021 | 82 | 20 | 102 |
Chuck Clark | 2022 | 61 | 40 | 101 |
The Eagles have a new, defensive-minded head coach in Jonathan Gannon, hired away from the Eagles. It remains to be seen if Baker will be as productive in Gannon's system. But Philadelphia's top-tackling safety a year ago, Marcus Epps, falls just short of this top-50 list (he had 94 total tackles for the Eagles), while their other regular starter at the position, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, led the league with 6 interceptions (in just 12 games). Baker is also productive in that area, with 2-3 interceptions three years in a row.
In general, would probably be nice to see Baker back with Arizona, but sounds like he might need a contract bump for him to be happily in the fold.
--Andy Richardson