The San Francisco 49ers are signing the New England Patriots’ 2024 fourth-round pick, Javon Baker, to the practice squad, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Baker appeared in seven games as a rookie and only registered one reception.
The team worked out Baker on December 1, along with a handful of other pass catchers. Jordan Watkins has been a healthy scratch for a couple of weeks now. As for the practice squad, the only time we’ve seen Malik Turner was when Jauan Jennings was sidelined, while rookie Junior Bergen has yet to play in a regular-season game.
Baker’s 71st percentile wingspan coming out of the NFL Draft felt like it would be something the 49ers gravitated toward. Baker did a tremendous job at UCF in college, using his frame to shield defenders and consistently high-pointing passes. I felt like he was one of the biggest sleepers coming out of that wide receiver class. He got open on the kind of routes the 49ers use, like curls, in-breakers, and vertical routes. He also showed the kind of competitiveness on screens that shows he has playmaking ability.
But Baker got a quick hook in New England and didn’t last long with the Eagles’ practice squad. Now, Baker gets his third shot. Hopefully, for all parties involved, the third time is a charm.
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