Patriots Receiver Is Ready to Bounce Back After Disappointing Rookie Year

"That's all I can tell y'all. Bring your popcorn. I make people in wheelchairs stand up. Bring your popcorn," Baker exclaimed after being drafted. This created a lot of conversations about if the Patriots had gotten a steal with the 110th pick.

Unfortunately, this was followed by a poor preseason and training camp, which included many drops, and a disappointing season in which he had one catch for twelve yards in the final game, where the Patriots played mostly backups.

Baker began his collegiate career at Alabama, where he had nine catches for 116 yards and a touchdown, and then transferred to UCF, where in his senior year he had fifty-three catches for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns.

Baker is 6'1" and 202 pounds, and he is a big-play receiver. He can leap and grab the ball over anyone, and 50/50 balls to him are more like 70/30 balls. He has a 37-inch vertical and good top-end speed.

Baker did not see much playing time this season for the Patriots, with only four targets on the year. He was not targeted until the twelfth game of the season. Still, Baker remains a unique talent, and at only twenty-three years old, he has plenty of time to improve.

If he can work on his hands, route running, and blocking, he could become a valuable contributor for the Patriots and a reliable receiver for quarterback Drake Maye. The receiver room is wide open, and with a strong offseason, training camp, and preseason, Baker can easily work his way onto the field this upcoming season.

Baker is an exciting talent with a lot of confidence that shows in his game. If the Patriots can put him on the right track, he could fight for a starting receiver spot.