Javon Baker 2024 NFL Draft Profile, Team Fits

Javon Baker Draft Profile, Team Fits

Javon Baker has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft and is a name to watch in the middle rounds. Baker was originally a four-star high school prospect and committed to Alabama in 2020. For obvious reasons, he didn’t see the field much during his first season but stuck around for 2021. As a sophomore, he was still buried on the depth chart and posted seven receptions for 101 yards. Baker decided to enter the transfer portal, where he was considered the 13th-highest transfer on the market.

He signed with UCF, and the breakout was on. Baker led the team in all major receiving categories, and posted over 14 yards per reception. He wasn’t just a deep ball threat, and was consistently making plays all over the field and then using his run after the catch ability to extend big plays into even bigger ones. As a senior, Baker took another serious leap. He rose from 14 yards per reception to over 21 yards per reception. In his entire college career, Baker collected 117 receptions for 2051 yards and 13 touchdowns. If he hadn’t been buried on Alabama’s roster for so long, he may have put up even gaudier numbers. In 2023 Baker earned first team All Big-12 accolades, and declared for the draft after his senior season.

Strengths

Prolific body control at the catch point.

Fluid hips throughout the route tree.

Manipulates play speed to ruin defensive back’s days.

Aggressive after the catch.

Comfortable both in the slot and out wide.

Weaknesses

Drop rate is an area for concern.

Posted average speed testing at the Combine.

Sometimes shows amazing high point ability. Sometimes mistimes jumps entirely.

Replacement level at best as a run blocker.

Pro Comp: George Pickens Gabe Davis fusion dance

Projected Round: Late third round through early fourth

Team Fits: Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens

Last Word on Javon Baker 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Despite not testing that way, Baker showed long speed and body control on film. He does the little things well at the catch point, which are some of the harder things for a receiver to grow with over time. If he finds himself in the right system with the right coach, Baker can be a solid number two/jump ball option for a team long term. If a team tries to rush Baker into a primary target role too quickly, he could find himself on the wrong side of a roster extremely quickly.

Baker’s best attributes are as a deep ball threat who can break tackles after the reception, which is a strange combination. It takes him a little bit to giddy up and go, but once he gets his stride under him he is able to eat up space effectively. In fantasy football, he’s the type of receiver who could have absurd spike weeks, but then disappear for stretches at a time. He was taken in the early third round of this dynasty rookie draft.

Main Photo Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

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