UCF wide receiver Javon Baker emerges as the New England Patriots’ initial reported candidate for their Top-30 visits, marking the commencement of the team’s subsequent phase in the pre-draft assessment period. Tony Pauline of spoortskeeda.com broke the news regarding Baker’s potential connection with the Patriots.
Baker, aged 22, kickstarted his collegiate journey at Alabama but transitioned to Central Florida after encountering inconsistent opportunities during his initial two seasons. However, his tenure with the Knights proved to be more fruitful: participating in 27 games, he secured 108 receptions for 1,935 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning the distinction of a first-team All-Big 12 honoree in his senior year of 2023. Furthermore, Baker received invitations to both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.
Primarily operating as a perimeter receiver, Baker exhibits proficiency in contested catches and vertical field stretching, positioning him as a prospective mid-round pick in this year’s draft. Despite showcasing commendable attributes, his performance in testing metrics fell short of expectations. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 202 pounds during the combine, Baker’s results in the broad jump (10’1″) and particularly the 40-yard dash (4.54) were underwhelming, ranking him 26th out of 30 wide receivers in the Combine’s 40-yard dash category. This culminated in a Relative Athletic Score of 7.72, reflective of his performance.
Nevertheless, the Patriots remain inclined towards potentially investing in Baker during the early stages of Day 3. Given the team’s demand for enhancements and nurturing talent in the wide receiver position, Baker presents a fitting prospect from UCF.
It’s evident that New England holds an interest in him.
Each franchise is permitted to host 30 prospects for private assessments, although the term “Top-30” can be misleading. It doesn’t denote the caliber of prospects but rather signifies an opportunity for teams to evaluate players across all levels. These visits facilitate a comprehensive evaluation process, encompassing various activities such as film analysis, medical evaluations, and information gathering. Notably, on-field workouts are excluded from these assessments.
In the previous year, six of the Patriots’ 12 draft selections had prior Top-30 interactions with the team, including their first-round pick, Christian Gonzalez.
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