Cardinals Budda Baker underrated in PFF’s 2025 safety rankings

PFF on Baker next season with Cardinals:

“Baker put together arguably the best year of his career in his eighth NFL season. The Washington product logged more than 1,000 snaps for the first time since 2021, and he earned a career-high 77.8 PFF overall grade that ranked 12th among all safeties. Baker was especially productive against the run, as he earned a positive PFF grade on 11.2% of run plays, his highest rate since his rookie season.”

Buday had Baker as the sixth best NFC safety on the list, ranking two Detroit Lions safety ahead of him. The Cardinals defense last year dealt with multiple injuries to key players and frankly lacked the talent to stay with elite offenses. However, with the addition of edge Josh Sweat, defensive tackle Calais Campbell, and the young prospects added in the draft, Baker’s job in the second will be easier by a wide margin.

Baker had to do much of the heavy lifting in defending the run and helping with the front seven. However, Walter Nolen and Dalvin Tomlinson will solidify the interior defensive line that gives Baker more flexibility to help in the pass game with young cornerbacks like Will Johnson. The talent on next year’s Cardinals team is setting up Baker to have another career season.