Javon Baker
Age 20
Height 6’ 1”
Weight 202 lbs
40 time 4.54
10-yard split 1.58
Vertical jump 37”
Broad jump 10’1”
What's the buzz? Javon Baker started his collegiate career at Alabama but transferred to UCF in 2021. It was there that Baker blossomed into a talented playmaker who had the knack for big clutch catches and game-breaking touchdowns. Baker was under the radar initially leading up to the combine and pro day, but the hype is building.
Catching report. Baker has powerful hands and great concentration through the grab. He rarely bobbles or drops a pass. Baker doesn't shy away from any contact and has the strength to shed tackles and defenders. Baker also excels at coming back to the ball to make a grab. There’s no quit in his game.
Running report. Baker’s route tree at UCF was limited where he ran mostly post patterns and go routes. His limited route tree may hurt him at the next level, but hopefully, it’s a case of play-calling versus ability. Baker’s best ability is shaking tackles once he has made the catch. He was dead to right by a corner or safety in many plays, only to gain more yards after an ankle-breaking maneuver.
Weakness. Javon is a solid prospect, not an elite one. As mentioned earlier, his route running is not as polished as the top prospects and he was only designed to run a few different routes. This could be a by-product of the UCF offensive playbook only consisting of eight or nine plays. Can he step it up if he’s called upon to run more diverse patterns? He’s not a burner, as he ran a pedestrian 4.54 at the combine.
Lazy comparison: Josh Downs. Last year's draft class brought us a feisty wideout like Baker in Josh Downs. Both are smaller school talents with a lot of heart and fight, that could be off a lot of people's radar.
Summary: Awesome hands, tremendous hustle. Lacks true top-end speed but can generate enough separation. Baker will probably be a 4th-5th round pick in the NFL but could benefit if he lands on a team with minimal competition at wide receiver. The Giants, Cardinals, Rams, and Chiefs come to mind as teams lacking depth at the position. Should Baker land there, he could earn some looks early and often in camp. With a chip on his shoulder Baker can make an impact with a strong showing in training camp.
In your rookie drafts this year, he’d make a tremendous 3rd round pick, where most of your league mates lose interest after round 2.
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