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Name: Javon Baker
Height: 6'1
Weight: 202lbs
Position: Receiver
College: UCF
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Superpower: Abruptness
Sudden mover, with the ability to accelerate immediately after any period of deceleration. This is the quality that I saw often from now San Francisco 49ers, Wide Receiver, Brandon Aiyuk when he was coming out of Arizona State. This quality allows Baker to become a threat at all three levels of the field.
There is an ease at which he can throttle down and transition out of breaks. Another area where this abrupt nature shows up is when he is timing vertical flight paths. Can pivot and react with a high-end combination of precision & suddenness. From a physical qualities standpoint, he has the ability of a starting-caliber NFL wide receiver.
Kryptonite: Inconsistency at the catch point
With raw tools often comes a bit of inconsistency to match that upside. The leash Baker is given in the NFL will determine his success or failure - he is still learning how to play with consistency and nuance down to down.
Can try to do too much at the catch point at times - can get confused on which tools are best to use for the given situation. My hope is that a coaching staff brings him along slowly and doesn’t stunt his growth by rushing him onto the field.
Archetype: Boundary specialist between the caliber of Brandon Aiyuk & Michael Gallup
'Why Javon Baker?"
In my opinion, this is the steal of the draft. Planted my flag on Tank Dell, and I am planting my flag on Javon Baker.
Let's find out why.
When I began doing my homework on this 2024 Wide Receiver class back in December this was the first rep I remember seeing of Baker.
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There are a lot of things to like here:
- - Efficient outside indicator step to inside break
-- Full extension grab into pivot action
-- Violent finish
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Post-catch qualities immediately jumped off the screen.
Quicker than fast.
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Great decelerative qualities and recognition of space closure.
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Watch the decel - recon - indicator plant. Baker loves utilizing indicator steps both in-route & post-catch.
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Not a giant threat for long house calls, however he did hit 21.30 mph last Fall - adequate to slightly above play speed.
Again, the recognition - reverses on a singular step to negate #11.
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As an outside receiver in the league, it is becoming a prerequisite to be a space creator post-catch.
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Baker checks that box.
The lower limb dexterity and advanced positioning to not only get a foot down, but to roll out of the ground forces...
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The rolling out of the ground contact mitigates the force of the fall. Meaning, he protects the ball as well as the health of his left ankle.
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One of the more impressive stand-alone plays of this cycle for many reasons.
When you watch UCF in 2023, a lot of their vertical actions relied upon the late separation of Baker.
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His ability to track and simultaneously roll away from the defender is a unique trait that helps him survive the ground with consistency.
Really enjoy his late hands.
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Doesn't give many early tells with flight pathing - able to track & time with efficiency.
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Checks a lot of boxes as an outside receiver in the NFL.
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-- Separates late with timing & recognition
-- Can win early or at the stem of non-vertical routes
-- Sudden & effective use of indicator & transition steps
-- Reliable & versatile post-catch skills
-- Ball winner in contested scenarios
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With Baker, you continually see early route nuance, dextrous late-phase adjustments and a combination of aggression & safety during ground/defender survival.
Watch the pivot mechanism to re-distribute defender force.
There are concerns about Baker’s drops (was at 10% in all collegiate seasons)
For me I like to look at plays like this where he shows the ability to use his length & hand strength to secure short targets.
Drops are not a sticky statistic - Baker has above-adequate catch concentration and displays consistency with receptions that require higher degrees of difficulty.
His post-catch aggression is evident and appreciated.
Doesn’t dance around defenders, however he has a large toolbox of solutions in space.
For me, having a large post-catch toolbox is important in terms of projection of NFL role.
Baker is likely an X receiver in the league, however it’s plays like this that will earn him targets on first-level routes.
Can bring energy to an offense with his multi-phase physicality.
Not afraid to be the hammer.