The New England Patriots are using the next few weeks to rest up before returning for training camp. The offseason has been filled with a ton of changes for the team, and not everyone has to be feeling good going into the 2025 season.
In free agency and the NFL draft, New England brought in Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. They join a jam-packed WR room, and that doesn't bode well for Javon Baker.
OTAs wrapped up on June 5, and mandatory mincamp finished on June 11.
Javon Baker Needs to Step Things Up
Baker had a disappointing rookie season, where he had one catch (four targets) for 12 yards. Considering that New England drafted him with the 110th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, they were expecting more.
The front office didn't like what they saw from him. Guys like DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Diggs, Williams, and Hollins are ahead of Baker on the depth chart.
During an OTA practice, Baker made a nice catch but decided to flex his arm and jog slowly to the huddle. Vrabel wasn't a fan of that and called him out on the field for it.
In addition to that, ESPN's Mike Reiss has Diggs, Hollins, Douglas, and Williams as locks to make the roster. He then has Boutte, Bourne, and Efton Chism III as guys who have made plays this spring. The fact that Baker wasn't on the list isn't a positive sign.
The coaching staff that drafted him is no longer in the building. The UCF product will need to step his game up in order to make the 53-man roster, but it's not looking great.
Reiss was there throughout the spring and didn't see Baker stand out in those sessions, while other guys did.
While it isn't the end of the world just yet, Baker has his work cut out for himself to make the team. If he doesn't step it up, his time in New England may come to an end. And OTAs showed that.