It’s crazy to think that the New England Patriots have already had nine training camp practices. Even though summer is slowly waning, the position battles are heating up.
The wide receiver room has received the most attention out of any position group. There is plenty of depth and numerous players who are proving they are worth keeping.
Although they still have plenty of time to convince the coaches to keep them, it seems certain that this wide receiver's tenure in New England is coming to a close.
Javon Baker Is as Good as Gone
Even though he was a fourth-round selection in the 2024 draft, Javon Baker’s chances of making the team are slim. After a season in which he played strictly special teams, the Patriots sought help at receiver, adding Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, and Mack Hollins to the mix.
Those three, along with Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas, are deemed guaranteed to earn a spot on the roster. That puts the Patriots at five receivers, meaning they have only one spot if they opt to have six receivers on the team.
If that’s the case, the odds are against Baker, as he’ll have to beat out Ja’Lynn Polk, Kendrick Bourne, and Efton Chism III for the final spot. Baker showed little in his rookie season, as he only played 90 snaps on offense. Of those 90, 39 of them came in the final game against the Buffalo Bills’ backup players, where he recorded one reception for 12 yards.
While he’s had a solid camp, he hasn’t stood out at camp or had any days that he looked like the best receiver on the field. If he couldn’t get on the field and be productive on one of the worst offenses in the league, what say he’ll do anything now in a crowded receiver room?
If he had improved, he’d already shown some flashes by now. It’s still early, and he’ll have time to prove himself in the preseason games, but I have little confidence that he’ll show something he already hasn’t.
For someone who attempted to build hype for his play, his tenure has been disappointing and surely won’t last much longer unless he shows something before the team makes roster cutdowns on August 27th.