With The First Pick
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Budda Baker Isn’t Tyrann Mathieu

By Zack Trapp

Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs past the tackle attempt of Washington Huskies defensive back Budda Baker (32) during the first quarter of the 2016 CFP Semifinal at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs past the tackle attempt of Washington Huskies defensive back Budda Baker (32) during the first quarter of the 2016 CFP Semifinal at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington’s Budda Baker is a playmaking safety who is wrongly being compared to Tyrann Mathieu.

Aside from mock drafts, the most consistently nauseating convention of draft season is player comparisons. As many fans aren’t able to watch all of the prospects coming out, draft experts use these to give a better image of how a prospect plays and what role they might grow into.

These are useful, however, some of these are destructive and nature and give unrealistic expectations of a players talents.

It seems like every big bodied passer is type cast as the next Big Ben. Elite free safeties are always Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed, or Earl Thomas. The thing about these comparisons is that they provide a best case scenario about a player with a similar style or role, not necessarily what their impact will be at the next level.

Sometimes the entire community will band together and pronounce some wide-eyed prospect a clone of an established NFL star. This year, that player is Washington safety Budda Baker.

Versatile and playing bigger than his modest frame, Baker has consistently been declared the next Tyrann Mathieu. While they share similarities, this comparison is both lazy and misleading in nature.

Let’s dig in.

The Brilliance Of Mathieu

When healthy, Mathieu is one of the most destructive handful of defenders in football. Headlining a suffocating secondary, the Honey Badger is the answer the modern matchup problem. Undersized as he is, he’ll cover backs, tight ends, and receivers big and small.

He’ll play outside and in and is outstanding wherever he lines up. Off or press, man or zone, it doesn’t matter. With excellent ball skills, Mathieu consistently generates turnovers.

Categorizing him as a free safety, as he’s listed, doesn’t give Mathieu enough credit. Although he does play deep in Arizona’s base packages, as PFF explains here, he spends most his snaps at cornerback. He’s used as the matchup piece to an already stifling unit.

He blitzes like a menace out of the slot on passing downs. The former Tiger plays much faster than his 4.51 40 time would indicate. He delivers tone-setting hits.

Once a character concern, Mathieu has established himself as one of the leaders of the Cardinals locker room and a personal favorite of Bruce Arians. When he’s right, he’s one of the undeniable talents of the NFL.

The Skinny On Baker

I get why people draw parallels between Baker and Mathieu. They both kind of look alike on the field. The two play most of their snaps at nickel cornerback and make noise blitzing out of the slot. He provides matchup flexibility.

Baker even delivers some of the highlight reel hits that the former LSU star does. But comparing him to Mathieu is only setting fans up for disappointment.

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Like the Cardinals star, Baker is listed as a free safety but plays the bulk of his snaps as a nickel cornerback. Washington plays a ton of quarters coverage, leaving Baker typically covering the inside portion of the field in off coverage. He’s excellent there in both man and zone, erasing receivers in ideal trail position just off of their hip.

They don’t use him at all in press coverage, either due to scheme or inability to execute. His ball skills are below average.

Baker’s instincts are excellent. He has a nose for the football and is always near the play. He’s a willing and capable tackler. Although he ran a faster 40 than Mathieu, he isn’t nearly as rangy or athletic on the field.

With all that said, I like Baker. A lot. He’s one of the standout defensive backs in a loaded class and could even sneak into the back of round one. However, it’s a little irresponsible to project him towards the like’s of a player like Tyrann Mathieu.

He’s not nearly as destructive, doesn’t have the same matchup flexibility, and isn’t as physical or athletic. At this stage, he projects as a pure nickel cornerback who could start early on, which has a ton of value in today’s NFL.

There are plenty of other flexible slot corners who are more reflective of Baker’s potential. I’d argue he projects more like a souped up Darius Butler or a young Brandon Flowers. But he isn’t the kind of guy who is going to change the identity of a defense, at least not in his current incarnation.

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