Pick 67: Budda Baker, FS, Washington
Let’s start off the third round with a question: How many times must Aaron Rodgers throw a random deep pass to a completely uncovered WR before the Chicago Bears put someone in the secondary who can recognize and defend it? Keeping with the explosive playmaker theme, Budda Baker just might be the man to end Chicago’s collective heartache.
Baker has some of the best instincts in the country. He diagnoses plays incredibly quickly, diving towards ball carriers and absolutely annihilating quick-outs to WRs. Often Baker is nowhere to be seen, but moments later he’s darting towards the ball and making the tackle on a frustrated opponent.
Baker is able to make these kind of plays because he’s got elite speed. He ran a 4.35 forty just before last season. Much like Adoree Jackson, he was a track star in high school.
More of a leg hitter and ankle grabber, Baker may not have the ideal tackling chops some coaches prefer. Nonetheless, he’s a sure tackler and willing to engage, to the tune of 200 tackles in while at Washington.
Often compared to Tyrann Mathieu, he’s got similar size and explosiveness, without the accompanying drama.