Drake Maye-Javon Baker connection finally becomes reality

Five years after both were committed to Alabama, they join forces in New England.

When New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye originally committed to the University of Alabama in 2019, he quickly got to work before enrollment with one of his potential wide receivers: Javon Baker.

But Maye and Baker never took the field together for the Crimson Tide, as the QB eventually flipped his commitment to the University of North Carolina. Over five years later, the two will finally reunite in New England after the Patriots selected Baker with the 110th overall pick — two days after drafting Maye in the first-round.

“When Drake Maye was committed to ‘Bama at first, we always used to practice and throw around. Me and Drake Maye got a connection going on,” Baker said Saturday. “Drake Maye, probably really, I think, in my opinion, the best quarterback in this draft. So, when we connect again it’s going to be a good connection.”

After Baker was selected by New England, Maye immediately reached out to congratulate his new receiver. Now together again in Foxboro, Baker believes Maye is the perfect quarterback for him based off their old throwing sessions.

“Competitive. Trying to get the ball in whatever spots I ask him to put it, he’d put it there,” he remembered about Maye during their workouts. “So, he’d be just competitive, a competitive quarterback, and that’s what I like in a quarterback. He is somebody that could push me, and I’ll push him.”

Beyond Maye, Baker is also familiar with New England’s Round 2 wide receiver addition, Ja’Lynn Polk. Baker and Polk’s skillsets should play off each other nicely and make like easier for Maye with their ball skills and ability to win down the field.

Baker believes the trio will play a key role in helping the Patriots now get back to their winning ways.

“Ja’Lynn Polk, we’ve been working out this whole offseason, this whole process, so we got a connection going on too. Us three alone just going to bring back the winning mentality that everyone likes in Boston,” Baker said. “It’s a perfect opportunity. I just can’t wait to put on that uniform.”