The Patriots selected UCF wide receiver Javon Baker 110th overall in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Baker, 22, is the second wide receiver the Patriots have taken in this draft. They also selected Washington wideout Ja’Lynn Polk 37th overall.
Baker, who’s 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, can compete for snaps at the Patriots’ “X” and “Z” roles in the offense. He was very productive as a senior in 2023, racking up 1,139 yards on 52 receptions with seven touchdowns.
The four-star recruit transferred from Alabama after the 2021 season. One scout called him a fun but inconsistent player who has some special traits.
He dropped 14 passes over his last two college seasons.
Baker ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 37-inch vertical leap and 10-foot, 1-inch broad jump.
His 3.21 yards per route run ranked ninth among FBS wide receivers in 2023. He ranked second in yards per reception with 21.9.
He earned a 99.9 PFF grade on deep balls, catching 15-of-30 targets of 20-plus yards for 574 yards with four touchdowns.
Baker was coming off of a 56-catch, 796-yard, five-touchdown season in 2022 at UCF.
The big wideout also has some experience playing in the slot, where 27.1% of his snaps came last season.
He’s a potential steal if he can put everything together at the NFL level.
Baker joins Polk, Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, DeMario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Kawaan Baker and T.J. Luther in the Patriots’ wide receiver room.