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Well this is embarrassing.
Sam Monson, writer at Pro Football Focus, just put out his Top 32 NFL Safety Rankings entering the 2021 season.
Monson listed Cardinal Budda Baker 16th overall.
“Unfortunately for Baker, the most memorable play of his season — and arguably his career — is getting chased down from behind by a flying D.K. Metcalf to prevent a defensive touchdown, but Baker is a big-hitting safety who has always excelled against the run but has improved in coverage throughout his NFL career. Last season saw him earn a career-high PFF coverage grade (68.9).”
Baker is coming off a career season that saw the 25 year old earn All Pro honors. He finished the year with 112 total tackles as well as two sacks and two INTs.
Obviously, the ranking did not sit well with Baker as he took to Twitter to vent his frustrations with the analytic site:
I don’t even want Pff mentioning my name anymore honestly. Site been a hater since college lol.
— Budda Baker (@buddabaker32) June 1, 2021
My most memorable play was my first int with a big ass thumb club on my hand. Y’all wanna talk about fingers being fked up? Try playing a game in pain knowing you have surgery the next day. pic.twitter.com/wvUBYfzfcM
— Budda Baker (@buddabaker32) June 1, 2021
In just four seasons, one could argue that Baker has put himself on a Hall of Fame trajectory. The former Washington product has earned Pro Bowl honors in three of his first four seasons, and has been an All Pro twice.
This past season, Baker was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.
Given his play and the appropriate accolades that have followed, it’s typically the general consensus among league insiders that Baker has solidified himself as a top safety in all of football. Last off season, the Cardinals backed this notion by making Baker the top paid safety in the league.