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Budda Baker

Productive safety wants new contract

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)
PlayerSeasonSoloAstComb
Budda Baker201910443147
Jalen Pitre20229948147
Eric Reid20199733130
Jonathan Owens20228441125
Minkah Fitzpatrick20218440124
Julian Love20227945124
Jordan Poyer20209133124
Richie Grant20227053123
Antoine Bethea201810021121
Jalen Thompson20217942121
John Johnson20188237119
Budda Baker20209028118
Derwin James20217543118
Landon Collins20197839117
Logan Ryan20217740117
Johnathan Abram20216452116
Rayshawn Jenkins20227343116
Jamal Adams20188629115
Derwin James20226451115
Vonn Bell20206747114
Harrison Smith20218331114
Shawn Williams20198034114
Jordan Fuller20216350113
Logan Ryan20197340113
Budda Baker20227536111
Jessie Bates III20187338111
Kevin Byard20207932111
Antoine Bethea20198129110
Jalen Thompson20227931110
Shawn Williams20188129110
Jessie Bates III20207831109
Adrian Phillips20207633109
Kevin Byard20226939108
L'Jarius Sneed20227533108
Tracy Walker20217434108
Eric Weddle20196939108
Xavier Woods20217236108
Jeremy Chinn20217532107
Jordan Poyer20197136107
Grant Delpit20227233105
Terrell Edmunds20197134105
Derwin James20187530105
John Johnson20207332105
Jaquan Brisker20227331104
Anthony Harris20205846104
Tracy Walker20198221103
Adrian Amos20227329102
Budda Baker20187824102
Kenny Moore20218220102
Chuck Clark20226140101

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

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