Budda Baker has been nominated by Pro Football Network as the Arizona Cardinals' candidate for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The seven-time Pro Bowler is recognized for his impressive versatility, evidenced by a career-high 164 tackles last season. Despite this, he has not recorded an interception since 2022, raising questions about his ability to make game-changing plays. To truly contend for the award, Baker will need to elevate his turnover stats significantly.

Past winners of the DPOY have often been premier pass rushers or cornerbacks, making Baker's path challenging. The last safety to win was Troy Polamalu in 2010, who had an impressive seven interceptions that season. Baker's chances will depend on producing similar standout statistics, as he tries to return to the form that made him one of the league's top defensive backs.