After dropping to the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has a big chip on his shoulder. He keeps track of the 16 wide receivers drafted before him. He has also substantially outperformed the majority of them over the last three seasons.

The Lions lost Josh Reynolds in free agency, as predicted, and they have yet to sign another seasoned receiver as the calendar turns to May. Some people expected them to choose a wide receiver with a specific skill set, but they did not.

On the draft front, UCF wide receiver Javon Baker was an intriguing option for the Lions. He began his college career at Alabama in 2020, but he was buried in the depth chart for two seasons before transferring. He had a breakout season at UCF in 2022, catching 56 passes for 796 yards and five scores.

 

Baker was even better last season, when the Knights advanced to the Big 12, finishing with 52 receptions for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year, he had the highest average of 21.9 yards per catch among FBS players with at least 50 receptions.

Baker’s performance versus single coverage drew special attention from Pro Football Focus.

Javon Baker quickly channels Amon-Ra St. Brown following the draft fall.

Baker was selected 110th overall (fourth round) by the New England Patriots. He was the 18th wide receiver taken, and the Patriots’ second wide receiver overall (Ja’Lynn Polk at 37). In a social media video, he expressed dissatisfaction.

“There’s no way in f***ng America that 10 receivers are better than me. “You’re insane,” Baker remarked.

No word on whether Baker will memorise the names of the wide receivers picked before him and keep track of them, as St. Brown did. However, he appears to be an ideal skill set complement to St. Brown and Jameson Williams to round out the Lions’ wide receiver group.

The Lions did not appear to have a genuine opportunity to choose Baker, which may be considered a missed opportunity if he channelled the drive from his draft fall as St. Brown has.

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