When Budda Baker was last announced on the NFL Top 100 list, he was still looking like he might be a free agent after the season and his future was unknown. He was also No. 89 on the rankings.
But Budda's 2024 turned it around. He got his contract extension. He was one of eight nominees for the league's sportsmanship award. He was second-team All-Pro after an excellent season. And the players noticed -- he ends up No. 34 on this year's ranking.
"He's the standard of what an Arizona Cardinal should be," teammate Darius Robinson said.
The other two Cardinals on this year's list were Josh Sweat and Trey McBride.
It is Baker's sixth straight year on the list. His previous rankings:
- 2024 - 89
- 2023 - 73
- 2022 - 67
- 2021 - 19
- 2020 - 97
That Baker is the top Cardinal is no surprise. He'll be the defensive heart-and-soul of a unit that, if it makes the jump many expect and if Baker keeps being the wild card in Nick Rallis' scheme, could push Baker even higher on next year's list.
