Javon Baker, WR UCF: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Baker was a four-star recruit from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga. in the class of 2020

Javon Baker’s decision to transfer from Alabama to UCF paid off. The senior wide receiver produced nearly 2,000 yards over the past two years and has positioned himself to be an early Day 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

Javon Baker, WR UCF: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Senior wide receiver from Atlanta, Ga.

Background: Baker was a four-star recruit from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 203 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 110 for Rivals, and No. 207 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 276th in the nation with an 80 grade out of 100. Baker committed to transfer from Alabama to Kentucky in 2022 but flipped and went to UCF. He produced 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns as a high school junior. Baker earned MVP honors as a wide receiver at Nike’s "The Opening" Regionals in Atlanta. He was a member of the Marietta Daily Journal's Dynamite Dozen, representing the 12 best players in the state of Georgia. Baker earned an invitation to the All-American Bowl.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2023 First Team All-Big 12, 2023 Honorable Mention All-American (Phil Steele)

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, and punt return units, experience operating out wide and in the slot, hand size, hand counters to break jams, mixes route tempo, masterful job manipulating leverage to create space, detailed vertical routes to shake DBs, good shoulder and head fakes at the top of the stem, good hip fakes to spin DBs, rocker step helps create separation and space by manipulating the DB, sinks hips at top of stem, some mid-route burst to help stack unsuspecting DBs, stacked Cobee Bryant vs. Kansas (2023), top speed not reflected by 40-time, high points the ball well, adjusts well to the ball while it’s in the air, body control on back shoulder fades, tracks the ball well over his shoulder, uses his frame to shield the ball at the catch point, makes catches through contact, strong hands to hold onto contested catches, works back to the QB on scramble drills, high effort blocker, constantly blocking downfield for his teammates on big plays

Cons: Very middle of the road testing profile, not a twitchy athlete, lacks burst off the line, lacks speed to threaten off-man and deep zones consistently, generates limited vertical separation, DBs catch up to him on intermediate to deep crossers, some reps stonewalled at the line by press, driven into the sideline by press coverage, moved too far off his routes by mid-route contact, too many steps to decelerate from high speeds, not the smoothest working back down the stem on comeback routes, can’t create on schemed touches, not elusive after the catch, drops have been a consistent concern, some body catches on tape, focus drops, body positioning/angles as a blocker

Overview: Baker enters the NFL with special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, and punt return units. He gained experience operating in the slot in 2023 but primarily aligned outside in college. Baker has a very average athletic testing profile, which is reflected in his play on the field, but he has large hands and an impressive wingspan. He uses hand counters to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage. Baker is a superb route runner. He is a master at manipulating leverage to create space and shifting tempo to draw in defensive backs. The Georgia native deploys effective shoulder and head fakes at the top of the stem but also has the hip movement to really sell defenders on his breaks. He occasionally even gets defensive backs to spin around trying to locate him as he strings them along like a puppet master. Baker uses a rocker step to create separation and space by causing defensive backs to back off and anticipate the wrong routes. His fakes are primarily effective on the vertical route tree. Baker isn’t a twitchy athlete and lacks burst off the line of scrimmage, but he has enough mid-route burst to stack defensive backs like Kansas’ Cobee Bryant (2023). Baker’s 4.54 40-yard dash from the NFL Combine isn’t completely reflective of his speed. According to Zebra Technologies at the Senior Bowl, Baker reached a top speed of 20.99 miles per hour, the second-fastest time by a wide receiver all week. Only Devontez Walker (21.19 miles per hour) hit a greater top speed. However, Baker also had one of the slower acceleration times recorded, which explains some of his issues creating vertical separation. The former Alabama transfer doesn’t threaten off-man and deep zone coverages consistently, and defensive backs get in-phase and stay attached to him on intermediate to deep crossers. Baker deals with some focus drops and body catches, but he is usually very good at the catch point. He high points the ball and makes good adjustments to poor throws. His body control really shines on back shoulder fades, and he tracks the ball well over his shoulder. The former four-star recruit uses his frame to shield the ball at the catch point and makes catches through contact with his strong hands. Baker works back to his quarterback when the play breaks down and shows good effort downfield as a blocker. Baker isn’t elusive after the catch and won’t create much on schemed touches or short passes. He works well on the vertical plane but isn’t the sharpest breaking back down the stem on comebacks or curls. For a well-built receiver, he allows himself to be driven into the sideline or bumped off his route far too often. Baker is guilty of getting hung up on press coverage at the line occasionally.

Overall, Baker is one of the most detailed and nuanced route runners in the 2024 class who uses his mastery of leverage and route fakes to make up for his average athletic profile. Baker doesn’t generate a ton of separation for a receiver who primarily operates on the vertical plane but tracks and adjusts to the ball well. He will be a role-specific fit in the NFL.

Role & Scheme Fit: X or Z receiver in a vertical passing offense

Round Projection: Early Fourth to Early Fifth

Size: 6'1 1/4", 202 lbs. (NFL Combine)

Submitted: 04-04-24