After falling to the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the chip on the shoulder of Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is large. As in, the 16 wide receivers who were drafted before him and he keeps tabs on. He has also vastly outproduced most of them over the last three seasons.
The Lions lost Josh Reynolds in free agency, as expected, and they have not added another veteran receiver as the calendar has flipped to May. Some eyes were on the draft for them to take a wide receiver with a certain skill profile, and they didn’t do so.
Pro Football Focus was especially high on Baker’s work against single coverage.
Highest career college receiving grade versus single coverage among P5 WRs since 2015, per @PFF:
1. DeVonta Smith: 97.7
2. Ja'Marr Chase: 95.5
3. Tank Dell: 95.04. MARVIN HARRISON JR: 94.5
5. Tyler Johnson: 94.0
6. JAVON BAKER: 93.68. MALIK NABERS: 93.4
16. ROME ODUNZE:…— Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) March 2, 2024
Javon Baker immediately channels Amon-Ra St. Brown after draft fall
Baker was drafted 110th overall (fourth round) by the New England Patriots. He was the 18th wide receiver selected, and the second wide receiver the Patriots took for that matter (Ja’Lynn Polk at No, 37 overall). In a video he posted on social media, he’s not thrilled about it.
“No way in f***ng America 10 receivers better than me. You’re out of your fucking mind,” Baker said.
