The NFL’s Top 100 list for the 2026 season has already put a pair of Cardinals on the board, and Budda Baker’s name landing at No. 75 says plenty about how he’s viewed around the league.
Arizona had already seen Josh Sweat come in at No. 78, and Trey McBride was widely expected to show up somewhere high after his All-Pro season. Baker, though, was the surprise entry. He slid in well below his No. 34 spot from last offseason, but the bigger takeaway is who’s doing the voting: players.
That kind of peer recognition carries real weight, especially for a safety whose reputation has long outpaced whatever the box score says on a given Sunday.
“He's a human missile, he just smacks people. Budda kind of hits like a truck,” Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs said.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was just as direct about what makes Baker such a problem.
“His motor is something I really haven't seen before. I would see it in the greats, just watching Troy Polamalu or some of the [other] great safeties.”
Baker’s ranking comes after what was widely viewed as one of his quieter seasons. PFF gave him a 52.4 grade, the lowest of his career, but he still finished with 120 tackles and added another Pro Bowl to his résumé.
Smith-Njigba also pointed to the way Baker can be moved around and used in different spots, which is part of what makes him so difficult to prepare for.
“It's hard to gameplan for him. He's a linebacker.
He's a safety. He's a corner,” Smith-Njigba continued.
That versatility is a big part of how Nick Rallis deploys him, and it’s why offensive coordinators keep running into the same headache: Baker can show up anywhere and wreck the plan.
He played 16 games last season and was a steady presence for a Cardinals defense that struggled with health and consistency in 2025.
Even as Arizona’s team results have lagged, Baker’s standing around the league hasn’t budged. Rams safety Quentin Lake summed up the respect he commands in simple terms.
“Budda has to be bigger than what he is, right? Like the way he plays, he has to be bigger,” Rams safety Quentin Lake said.
“Going in there, hitting anybody. Big running backs, tight ends. He has no fear.”
In Other News...
Darius Robinson Knows What Must Change In Crucial Cardinals Year 3
Darius Robinsons second NFL season gave the Cardinals a better look at what the defensive end can become, and now the next step is about turning that progress into something steadier. Arizona kept defensive coordinator Nick Rallis in place and added Pete Kwiatkowski to work with the defensive line, giving Robinson a familiar framework as he heads into a third year that carries real weight for his development.
Robinson has talked about needing to sharpen his self-scouting, knowing what he does well and what still needs work, then attacking both faster. He has also put extra offseason focus on pass rush and using his hands, and with training camp set to open July 22 at State Farm Stadium, the Cardinals will soon find out whether that work shows up when the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Real BJ Ojulari Question To Answer
BJ Ojulari is heading into a crucial stretch for the Cardinals, and not just because the outside linebacker has already shown the kind of length and athleticism that can make him a real factor off the edge. After flashing as a rookie, Ojulari now finds himself in the final year of his rookie contract, which adds a layer of urgency to a season that already carries plenty of weight for both player and team.
His next stop is the third annual Sack Summit in Las Vegas, a pass-rush gathering that brings together some of the leagues most decorated edge players for hands-on work and development. Ojulari has sounded upbeat about where he stands physically and how he is approaching the coming season, which is exactly the kind of sign Arizona wants to hear as it sorts out what his role and future might look like. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat Is Finally Getting The Respect Cardinals Fans Wanted
Josh Sweat is getting a little more national shine after a season that made him one of the Cardinals most important defenders. The edge rusher landed at No. 78 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list after piling up 12.5 sacks in his first season in Arizona, a performance that helped validate what Cardinals fans saw every week: a pass rusher who can change games with his speed and relentlessness.
The respect has come from more than just voters, too. Tristan Wirfs, Bryce Young and Derrick Brown all singled out Sweats motor, length and disruptive style, the kind of praise that tends to follow players who make life miserable for offenses. He was still left out of the Pro Bowl, and there was some offseason uncertainty around him, but Sweat remains in Arizona and is expected to anchor the pass rush again this season. [Read more 🡒]