New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Javon Baker has been turning heads in the first week of training camp.
His teammate, veteran wide receiver K.J. Osborn, went as far as comparing him to Pittsburgh Steelers’ star receiver George Pickens.
Pickens has been a big part of the Steelers offense so far in his career, tallying 63 catches for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns last year.
Baker has been impressive in his own right with multiple eye-popping catches in one-on-ones and competitive team drills. It’s clear that Osborn sees something special in him.
“I told him he reminds me of George Pickens,” Osborn told reporters, via a team video. “Like bigger like that—really, really, really talented. Raw. You see him jump up and make big plays. He’s a rookie, so learning the offense, the details of it.
“I’m trying to tell him the type of people he’s going to face on Sunday. Especially in this division, we go against some really good corners. So it’s been really exciting to continue to see him continue to come along and make plays, and I think he’ll be a good player.”
Time will tell how Baker’s game ultimately translates to the NFL level.
However, his positive performances in training camp certainly carry some weight. Baker was drafted to bring depth and explosiveness to the Patriots’ offense, and he appears to be doing just that.