Tag: deandre baker

Former Giants first-round pick training for potential NFL return

Former New York Giants first-round pick, cornerback Deandre Baker, is training for a potential return to the NFL.

Way back in 2019, which seems like forever ago thanks to COVID, the New York Giants drafted cornerback Deandre Baker out of Georgia. He was selected in the first round, the 30th overall pick and big things were expected from him.

Except those things never happened because Baker was arrested on robbery charges during the summer of 2020. The Giants waived Baker in September of 2020 and he signed to the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad.

Baker was eventually cleared of all charges, but the stain on his character was already there.

In 2022, the Chiefs waived Baker and he mostly disappeared from the landscape until this June when he suited up for the UFL’s DC Defenders, earning a spot on the 2024 All-UFL team.

Now Baker is working on making his way back to the NFL.

As a rookie with the Giants, Baker recorded 61 tackles (48 solo) and eight passes defensed. Over his two seasons with the Chiefs, he appeared in 10 games and earned 21 tackles (17 solo), one sack and two passes defensed.

Baker hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021, but he hopes to be back sooner than later.

[lawrence-related id=731592,731578,731572]

Former star Georgia DB tries out for the Dallas Cowboys

Former Georgia football cornerback is hoping to sign with the Dallas Cowboys after stint in the UFL

Former Georgia Bulldogs star cornerback Deandre Baker has tried out for the Dallas Cowboys. Baker, who played for the DC Defenders in the UFL (United Football League) this spring, is looking to make an NFL comeback.

This season, Baker recorded 22 total tackles and a forced fumble for the Defenders. Baker along with cornerback Gaeron Conley tried out for Dallas. Baker is only 26 years old and has the talent to earn a training camp invitation.

Baker was a first-round pick for the New York Giants in the 2019 NFL draft. The 2018 Jim Thorpe Award winner played with the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL from 2020-2021 before his release in 2022.

There are more than 60 Georgia Bulldogs in the NFL. An NFL team could be composed entirely of former Georgia players. Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has produced NFL draft talent at an unprecedented rate and is showing no signs of slowing.

Cowboys work out 4 UFL defenders, including 2 former 1st-round draft picks

From @ToddBrock24f7: CBs Deandre Baker and Gareon Conley were 1st-round picks in the NFL. Their workouts Tuesday could be the first step toward a comeback bid.

Cowboys management loves to say that player evaluation happens 365 days a year. What they never mention is that some of those days are slightly busier than others.

Tuesday was one of those days. The team hosted four defensive players from the UFL- DC Defenders cornerback Deandre Baker, DC Defenders cornerback Gareon Conley, Michigan Panthers linebacker Noah Dawkins, and St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey Jr.- for workouts at The Star in Frisco as the team prepares for training camp in late July.

All have at least some level of experience with NFL clubs; two of them were first-round draft picks at one point before their careers took a detour.

Baker was taken in the first round of the 2019 draft by the Giants. A Jim Thorpe Award winner and consensus All-American at Georgia, New York actually traded up to get him. But an arrest before his second season landed him on the commissioner’s exempt list, and the Giants waived him shortly thereafter. He made the Chiefs practice squad toward the end of the 2020 season and got back onto the field in late 2021, but a broken femur cut his comeback bid short. 2024 was his first year back in football; he was named to the inaugural All-UFL Team.

Conley was a first-round draft pick of the Raiders in 2017. The former Ohio State Buckeye played 23 games for the silver and black, making 20 starts and logging four interceptions over three seasons. The Houston Texans traded for him midway through the 2019 season, but he played just eight games with the club and spent most of 2020 on injured reserve. He logged two interceptions for the 4-6 Defenders this spring.

Dawkins was impressive enough coming out of The Citadel to be ranked in Mel Kiper Jr.’s Top 300 in 2019, but he went undrafted. He spent that summer in camp with the Bengals, then signed with Tampa Bay. After one season, he joined the Jets, where he stayed through the 2021 season. After a camp stint with Chicago in 2022, he moved to the USFL’s Panthers. This spring, he recorded 38 tackles for 7-3 Michigan under former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Harvey was an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State in 2019 and spent three seasons in the Browns organization. This spring was his second season with the Battlehawks and his league-leading 76 tackles earned him an All-UFL nod.

Per the team website, the Cowboys currently have just two open roster spots with about six weeks to go before training camp opens in Oxnard, Calif.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01j047znezqxadfzn4t8 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01j047znezqxadfzn4t8/01j047znezqxadfzn4t8-346b507ca20b30fffa04babe9d84c862.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Watch: Former Georgia DB Deandre Baker forces fumble in UFL

Former Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker hustled over 60 yards to force a fumble in the UFL

Former Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Deandre Baker made a hustle play for the D.C. Defenders in the UFL. Baker forced a fumble about 60 yards away from where the location of the snap.

Baker recorded two tackles for the Defenders, who defeated the Houston Roughnecks 23-18. A couple of other former Dawgs saw action in the game. Defenders outside linebacker Davin Bellamy recorded one tackle. Roughnecks defensive tackle Toby Johnson finished the contest with a pair of tackles.

Baker was a first-round pick for the New York Giants in 2019. The 2018 Jim Thorpe Award winner also played with the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL from 2020-2021 before his release in 2022.

Here’s a look at Deandre Baker punching the ball loose:

Baker is one of seven Georgia Bulldogs playing in the UFL. Next week, D.C. travels to face the Arlington Renegades.

Former All-SEC Georgia Bulldogs DB signs with UFL team

Former All-SEC Georgia Bulldogs defensive back has signed with the DC Defenders in the UFL

Former Georgia Bulldogs standout defensive back Deandre Baker has reportedly signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). Baker joins fellow Georgia Bulldog star Davin Bellamy with the DC Defenders.

Baker was a first-round pick for the New York Giants in 2019. The 2018 Jim Thorpe Award winner also played with the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL from 2020-2021 before his release in 2022.

Now, Baker will get a shot at reviving his pro football career. The UFL is a combination of the USFL and XFL. The leagues merged ahead of the 2024 season, which starts of March 30. UFL training camp starts on Feb. 24.

[lawrence-related id=98009,97955]

Another former Georgia Bulldog, defensive lineman Toby Johnson, was selected in the UFL draft. Johnson will play for the Houston Roughnecks in 2024. He previously played for the New Jersey Generals in the USFL.

DeAndre Baker named Giants’ worst first-round pick since 2000

Pro Football Network names CB DeAndre Baker as the New York Giants’ worst first-round pick since 2000.

What has been the New York Giants’ worst first-round draft choice of the 21st Century?

According to Ian Valentino of Pro Football Network, it was the selection of Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker in 2019.

In general, the New York Giants’ drafts have brought back either a solid player or a non-contributor over the last 22 years.

The worst two picks by the franchise were significant misses, even considering their track record. Baker played poorly as a rookie due to limited athleticism, had off-field issues, and then had a gruesome non-contact knee injury. He was the first player drafted in the top 64 released from his class.

The Giants’ 2012 first-rounder, David Wilson, ran for only 504 yards in two years with the team before injuries sunk his career. He was taken before Mitchell Schwartz, Janoris Jenkins, and Alshon Jeffrey.

Runner-up: David Wilson (2012)

The Giants traded back into the first round in 2019 to select Baker, the Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2018 as the nation’s top corner, giving Seattle three picks (37th, 132nd and 142nd) to do so.

Baker was a disaster from Day 1 and not only was he not long for the Giants, but they also lost out on several key mid-round draft picks as well. It was a complete lose-lose situation all the way around — on and off the field.

Wilson simply was a speedy home run hitter who was better suited for track and field than the NFL. He sustained a neck injury early on with the Giants and was forced to retire from football.

[lawrence-related id=708593,708619,708616]

[stnvideo key=”QA39raXwSH-2678111-7491″ type=”float”]

NFL draft history: Every player selected with the 30th overall pick since 2000

We’re looking at every No. 30 overall pick selected since the 2000 NFL Draft and the Philadelphia Eagles’ chances of landing an impact player.

The Eagles need impact players on both sides of the ball, and with two first-round picks in this month’s draft, Howie Roseman will have another opportunity to add depth to a Super Bowl-caliber roster.

First-round picks are expected to be critical contributors.

The list of No. 30 overall selections has several misses, hits, and a few Hall of Fame-worthy performers.

With the NFL draft fast approaching, we’re looking at every player selected with the 30th pick since 2000.

Cardinals bring in CB Deandre Baker, LB Jeremiah Attaochu for workout

Baker, a former first-round pick, was recently released by the Chiefs. Attaochu has played a lot of outside linebacker in 3-4 defenses.

The Arizona Cardinals brought in a pair of players who could help them at positions that many would say need some attention. Cornerback and outside linebacker positions appear to be the two thinnest position in terms of depth and also the two positions on defense with the biggest questions about the starters.

According to the NFL transaction report Wednesday, the Cardinals held tryouts for a former first-round cornerback and a former second-round edge defender.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Latest show:

Previous shows:

and

CB DeAndre Baker a potential option for the Cardinals

With the Chiefs releasing a former first round selection at cornerback, the Cardinals could be interested.

As the Arizona Cardinals assess their roster through the second week of training camp, it remains clear the team will likely be adding a veteran cornerback in the near future.

A potential addition could be cornerback DeAndre Baker, recently released by the Kansas City Chiefs, whom the Cardinals in Week 1 of the regular season. Baker is a former first-round draft pick.

The Chiefs added a ton to their cornerback room this offseason, highlighted by first-round selection Trent McDuffie. There just didn’t seem to be room for Baker on the roster.

Baker was the 30th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, taken a few picks before the 33rd pick, Byron Murphy. After an up-and-down rookie season with the Giants, he was arrested on armed robbery charges which put him on the Commissioner’s List.

These charges were dropped and Baker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent the last two seasons. The former first rounder did not find a role as a full time starter, appearing in eight games last year and having one start.

Perhaps the Cardinals view the 24-year-old as a high-upside player who could help their thin cornerback room. With his charges dropped, a former first round pick at a position of need is hitting the open market.

Baker posted a 60 PFF rating last season and played was a contributor on special teams. Should the Cardinals kick the tires on the No. 30 overall pick?

[listicle id=469846]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Latest show:

Previous shows:

and

Chiefs release CB DeAndre Baker from 90-man roster

The #Chiefs are releasing veteran cornerback and former #Giants first-round draft pick DeAndre Baker.

The Kansas City Chiefs are saying goodbye to a veteran cornerback on Sunday.

As first reported by ESPN’s Adam Teicher, the Chiefs have released CB DeAndre Baker from the 90-man offseason roster. The team first signed Baker to the practice squad back in 2020. He was promoted to the 53-man roster via standard elevation twice that year, but he suffered a serious non-contact leg fracture in the final game of the regular season.

After returning from the injury, Baker appeared in eight games last season, including a start in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. In total, he played a combined 238 snaps on defense in the regular season and postseason, recording 16 total tackles and a pass defended.

In early March, the Chiefs extended a qualifying contract offer to Baker, an exclusive rights free agent. He signed that ERFA contract to return to Kansas City for a third season.

The Chiefs added a ton of competition at the cornerback position this year, including rookies Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Nazeeh Johnson. They also traded to acquire Lonnie Johnson from the Texans. It was becoming increasingly clear that Baker was one of the players on the outside looking in with this competitive group.

Releasing him now gives him the chance to catch on with another team before the start of the 2022 NFL season. It also frees valuable repetitions for players who are more likely to make the 53-man roster. This move also creates a roster spot for recently-signed WR Devin Gray.

[listicle id=133553]