2017 NFL Draft: Cardinals select Budda Baker after sending four picks to the Bears
The Cardinals replace Tony Jefferson with Budda Baker
By
Ryan Wilson
•
1 min read
With the 36th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select safety Budda Baker of the University of Washington. Arizona traded up to get Baker, sending the Bears the 45th, 119th and 197th picks this year as well as a 2018 fourth-rounder in exchange for the 36th and 221st picks.
- Draft Tracker: Round 1
Arizona Cardinals
Pete Prisco's Grade: A
I love his game. He is a playmaking safety who will hit you and can cover. Reminds me of former Colt Bob Sanders.
Instant analysis
When the Cardinals traded up to the 36th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the expectation is that they would take a quarterback, possibly Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer. Instead, they grabbed University of Washington defensive back Budda Baker. It was a surprising development but Baker, who is only 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, is pound for pound one of the best players in the draft.
They already have Tyrann Mathieu, and Baker makes up for the loss of Tony Jefferson, who signed with the Ravens in March.
NFL comparison
Tyrann Mathieu. Sound familiar? Baker isn't on the same level as Mathieu, but he is cut from a similar cloth with the honey badger mentality to be a playmaker.
