The Arizona Cardinals will be making some defensive changes in 2019 with new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. First and foremost, he is bringing back the 3-4 defense the team ran for roughly a decade until Steve Wilks changed things last year.
With the new defensive scheme, there will be personnel changes. One is Budda Baker.
Used as the team’s nickel cornerback in 2018, he will return to safety full time, according to team digital correspondent Mike Jurecki.
Baker has played safety and in the slot. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2018 after making it as a rookie as a special teams player.
Baker finished with 107 tackles, eight tackle for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown.
His move to safety creates a decision that needs to be made. With Baker, Antoine Bethea and D.J. Swearinger, the Cardinals now have three starting safeties for two positions.
It also creates a new positional need with a slot corner. We will see how they address the nickel corner position in the weeks and months to come.
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