New England Patriots Secure Former USA Wide Receiver on Reserve/Future Contract…
The New England Patriots have officially signed former USA wide receiver Kawaan Baker, who boasts a college record of 126 receptions, 1,829 yards, and 16 touchdowns at South Alabama.
Despite his impressive college stats, Baker has yet to catch a pass in a regular-season NFL game during his three seasons of attempting to break into the league.
On Tuesday, the Patriots announced that Baker has inked a reserve/future contract, marking a potential opportunity for him to showcase his skills.
This type of contract allows players to be added to an NFL team’s roster during the offseason expansion from 53 to 90 players, beginning on March 13, the first day of the NFL’s 2023 business year.
Those under such contracts can participate in offseason workouts, minicamps, and OTAs as official team members.
Notably, reserve/future contracts are exclusively available to players not currently on NFL active rosters. In the 2023 season, Baker did not see any playing time.
Baker’s NFL journey started when he was drafted in the seventh round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 draft. During his rookie season, he spent most of his time on the practice squad, participating in 27 special-teams plays across two games.
His progress was interrupted when he received a six-game suspension on August 2, 2022, for violating the NFL’s Policy and Program on Performance-Enhancing Substances. Upon reinstatement on October 17, 2022, the Saints waived him.
Subsequently, Baker had brief stints with the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squads. Following a reserve/future contract with the Saints, he was released on August 29 during roster reductions for the regular season.
In addition to Baker, 28 players from Alabama high schools and colleges have signed reserve/future contracts since the conclusion of the 2023 NFL regular season.
Some notable names among them include offensive lineman Chandler Brewer, running back Spencer Brown, safety Shyheim Carter, and wide receivers Grant DuBose and Shedrick Jackson, among others, spread across various NFL teams.
Senior Bowl 2024 Recap: Potential Patriots Draft Targets Shine and Struggle…
The Senior Bowl, held in Mobile, AL, recently concluded, with the National team emerging victorious against the American team with a score of 16-7. In this event, several players potentially caught the attention of the New England Patriots, both positively and negatively.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler from South Carolina had an impressive week of practice that translated well to the game. He received the game MVP honors after going 4-of-4 for 65 yards and a touchdown in just two drives. Rattler, a former top recruit, showcased consistency throughout the week.
On the flip side, quarterback Sam Hartman of Notre Dame had a challenging performance, completing 7-of-25 passes for 69 yards and an unfortunate interception. Hartman struggled to find rhythm, especially with Michael Penix Jr. not participating.
Other quarterbacks had mixed performances. Bo Nix from Oregon led a touchdown drive, while Joe Milton III from Tennessee completed 9-of-13 passes but faced challenges in moving the ball and threw two interceptions. Quarterbacks Michael Pratt from Tulane and Carter Bradley from South Alabama also encountered difficulties.
Defensive lineman Braden Fiske from Florida State, despite being traded before the game, proved to be a formidable opponent against his former American teammates. Fiske’s explosive play resulted in four tackles, including 1.5 for losses, and a split sack.
Cornerback Chau Smith-Wade, a product of Washington State, translated his strong week into making impactful plays during the game. He intercepted a pass and returned it 83 yards, narrowly missing a pick-six. Smith-Wade also secured another takeaway on the final play of the day.
Wide receiver Tez Walker from UNC, who aimed to boost his draft stock into the first round, faced challenges. Walker failed to catch any of his six targets, with issues of drops persisting. Despite getting separation downfield in the fourth quarter, an under-thrown ball hindered his performance.
Among the running backs, Emani Bailey from TCU, Cody Schrader from Missouri, and Dylan Laube from New Hampshire showcased potential as day three picks. Bailey recorded 14 total touches for 87 yards, Schrader excelled as a pass catcher with five receptions for 54 yards, and Laube’s impressive week of practice elevated his draft status.
Honorable mentions include Luke McCaffrey, demonstrating versatility with notable catches and a punt return. Additionally, interceptions by Oregon safety Evan Williams and Louisville’s Jarvis Brownlee Jr. were noteworthy. North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray stood out with seven tackles and two impressive pass breakups. Stanford kicker Joshua Karty went 3-of-4, missing from 32 yards but connecting from 52.
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