After seeing 425 more defensive snaps in 2018, Budda Baker proved that he is a building block for the Arizona Cardinals defense. New defensive coordinator and defensive back whisperer Vance Joseph also sees him as such, as he mentioned that Baker would be a full-time safety in 2019, which will be his most significant role for the Arizona Cardinals to date.
Not only are coaches impressed, but trusted football analytics firm Pro Football Focus is as well. They noted that in 2018, Baker lead the team in run stops by a sizeable margin, despite being a defensive back and missing two games.