New England selected the UCF wide receiver with the 110th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It took 110 picks for Central Florida wide receiver Javon Baker to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Baker thought it took too long, something he made clear in an NSFW message on Instagram live.
After he has now officially made the jump to the pros, the receiver is motivated to make the teams that decided to pass him over pay.
“It’s just kill whoever on the other side of me. That’s really my mentality,” the 22-year-old said in his introductory video conference call with reporters.
After beginning his collegiate career at Alabama but catching just nine passes in 21 games, Baker transferred to UCF in 2021. A two-year starter for the Knights, he had his best season last year when he caught 52 passes for 1,139 yards — an average of 21.9 yards per reception — and seven touchdowns en route to earning first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Baker is now ready to bring the same type of playmaking ability to Foxboro.
“Just come to y’all’s stadium and bring your popcorn,” he said. “That’s all I can tell y’all. Bring your popcorn. I make people in wheelchairs stand up. Bring your popcorn.”
Whether he will eventually become a miracleworker at Gillette Stadium will be seen. At the very least, Baker is out for revenge.
Projected as a fringe Day 2 pick, Baker was selected in the fourth round by the Patriots. The 17th wide receiver off the board in this year’s draft, his draft status will just be an additional chip he is going to carry on his shoulder throughout his career.
“Honestly, there’s going to always be a chip on my shoulder no matter what,” Baker said. “I’m self-driven. I know how it feels to be behind somebody, I know how it feels to be bottom of the depth chart. So, I’m going to always have a chip on my shoulder regardless.”
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