The New England Patriots selected Javon Baker in the fourth round, and if confidence is the secret to being a successful NFL wide receiver, then the team will be quite happy.
Baker said that there are “no way in f–king America 10 receivers better than me” in a video that he posted on Instagram.
On the one hand, Baker is modest enough to acknowledge that there might be nine receivers in the draft who are better than him, even if he is the 18th choice in the 2024 draft.
The Patriots are also in an awkward situation because Ja’Lynn Polk, a receiver, was chosen by New England with the 37th overall pick.
The following is the full list of receivers selected in the draft before Baker:
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 4 to Arizona Cardinals)
- Malik Nabers (No. 6 to New York Giants)
- Rome Odunze (No. 9 to Chicago Bears)
- Brian Thomas Jr. (No. 23 to Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Xavier Worthy (No. 28 to Kansas City Chiefs)
- Ricky Pearsall (No. 31 to San Francisco 49ers)
- Xavier Legette (No. 32 to Carolina Panthers)
- Keon Coleman (No. 33 to Buffalo Bills)
- Ladd McConkey (No. 34 to Los Angeles Chargers)
- Ja’Lynn Polk (No. 37 to New England Patriots)
- Adonai Mitchell (No. 52 to Indianapolis Colts)
- Malachi Corley (No. 65 to New York Jets)
- Jermaine Burton (No. 80 to Cincinnati Bengals)
- Roman Wilson (No. 84 to Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Jalen McMillan (No. 92 to Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Luke McCaffrey (No. 100 to Washington Commanders)
- Troy Franklin (No. 102 to Denver Broncos
People who believe they were chosen later than they should have sometimes memorize the names of the people who were chosen before them.
Micah Parsons, a fantastic player for the Dallas Cowboys, is able to name every one of the 11 players chosen ahead of him in the 2021 NFL Draft. Tom Brady said on Instagram in observance of his 2000 Patriots draft selection that he will always remember the six quarterbacks that came before him on this momentous day.
Baker still has a ways to go before he can play in the NFL like Parsons or Brady, but he seems very driven to achieve and put himself in the best position possible.
Baker is a “downfield wide receiver with the ball-tracking ability and route-running skills to blossom into an NFL starter,” according to Derrik Klassen’s scouting report for B/R.
Given the state of New England’s receiving corps right now, Baker might see a lot of playing time in the upcoming football season with a strong training camp and preseason.