Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker is aiming high.
After getting selected early in Saturday’s fourth round of the NFL Draft, Baker told reporters he, new rookie quarterback Drake Maye and fellow receiver Ja’Lynn Polk will restore the Patriots’ championship mindset all by themselves.
“Us three alone is just going to bring back that winning mentality that everyone like in Boston,” Baker said.
Baker, an explosive 6-foot-1 receiver out of Central Florida, crossed paths with Maye when the quarterback was committed to Alabama as high school recruit. He added they used to throw in those days, before Maye decommitted and enrolled at North Carolina. Baker later transferred to UCF after two seasons spent near the bottom of Alabama’s depth chart.
He also had high praise for Maye.
“Drake Maye, in my opinion, is the best quarterback in this draft,” Baker said, before later adding: “As soon as I got drafted, he reached out to me. He just said congrats and let’s get to work.”
More recently, Baker shared a field with Patriots’ second-round rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. The two of them worked out together during the pre-draft process, before Polk went 37th overall out of Washington. Both profile as strong downfield threats in the NFL.
Baker averaged 21.9 yards per catch last season, second-most in major college football. He also claimed he can do everything as a receiver, while explaining what he wants to prove at the next level.
“Prove everything. Prove what I can do — prove I can do everything as a receiver,” he said. “I can do anything to win, just proving that. Honestly, I’m a team player, and I want to prove to the team that I’m one of them guys.”
Baker shared he’s excited to get to New England after expressing on Instagram Live and his first virtual press conference he believes teams waited too long to draft him. He also broke down his game, saying: “My mentality. I’m a receiver. I don’t know nothing but receiving the ball. I don’t care if the ball’s thrown out of bounds in the sideline, I’m going to receiver the ball.
“So at the end of that day, that right there, my mentality is just different from any other receiver. I can get down and dirty, I can do anything. So taht right there, my mentality is I can do anything as a receiver.”