Tag: deandre baker

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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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Giants earn C in 2019 NFL draft re-grade

In a Bleacher Report re-grade of the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Giants earn just a “C.”

In yet another ‘re-draft’ of the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Giants don’t fare well as time passes. Maurice Moten of Bleacher Report gives them a ‘C’ grade in his latest loopback on one of the most critical drafts in recent Giants history.

General manger Dave Gettleman made several grave errors, selecting Duke quarterback Daniel Jones No. 6 overall and then traded back into the first round to take Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker, who washed out amid legal troubles.

The Jones pick can still be salvaged if he plays well this season and finally put the franchise’s mind at ease after three inconsistent years.

As a rookie, Jones showed flashes, throwing for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, but his passing yards and touchdown totals have been on the decline thereafter. Though the athletic signal-caller has rushed for 1,000 yards and five touchdowns, he’s had some ball-security issues with 36 fumbles, losing 20 of them. The Giants declined to pick up the fifth-year option in rookie his deal.

The Giants waived Deandre Baker before the 2020 season as he faced robbery charges, but Florida prosecutors dropped those charges.

Third-round pick Oshane Ximines — the first player ever drafted out of Old Dominion – has also yet to establish himself.

Minnesota linebacker Ryan Connelly injured his knee right after becoming a starter and was later released. The sixth-round pick, Washburn cornerback Corey Ballentine, and the two seventh rounders (Syracuse defensive lineman Chris Slayton and Kentucky offensive tackle George Asafo-Adjei), all had very short Giants careers.

Gettleman did hit on a few of his picks, though. Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence — taken No. 17 overall with one of the picks the Giants received in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade — has become a reliable and steady presence and the team recently exercised his fifth year option.

Fourth rounder Julian Love, a safety from Notre Dame, has become a starter, and Auburn wideout Darius Slayton, selected in the fifth-round, has had some success.

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Giants select WR Terry McLaurin in 2019 NFL re-draft

In a 2019 NFL re-draft conducted by Pro Football Focus, the New York Giants pass on QB Daniel Jones and instead select WR Terry McLaurin.

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With the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Giants selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. However, if they were able to travel back in time and do things over, Pro Football Focus believes Big Blue would go in a different direction.

Trevor Sikkema of PFF recently conducted a re-draft and in it, the Giants nab wide receiver Terry McLaurin with their first pick in Round 1.

At the time, the Giants still had Eli Manning on the roster, but the then-38-year-old was in the last year of his contract and had led the team to a 5-11 record the season before. New York needed a quarterback, but re-drafting one here wouldn’t be fun.

Instead, I’ll anger the entire Washington fanbase by giving the Giants a player who should have gone top 10 in this class. McLaurin has averaged more than 1,000 yards a year through his first three NFL seasons. There’s plenty of reason to believe this upcoming campaign will be the best yet for McLaurin.

At No. 17 overall, Sikkema has the Giants remaining consistent and staying with defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.

The Giants still would have this pick, as it wasn’t a draft-day trade; this was the selection they received in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. They took Lawrence here back in 2019, and that’s still the right choice in this re-draft. The bigger-bodied Lawrence recorded a 73.3 pass-rushing grade in 2021, which was the fifth-best of any defensive lineman in the class.

As fans might recall, the Giants later traded back into Round 1 in order to draft cornerback Deandre Baker. That, of course, did not work out and Sikkema does not have them repeating history. Instead, the Green Bay Packers stay at No. 30 and select safety Darnell Savage.

Jones, meanwhile, falls out of the first round.

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Chiefs CB DeAndre Baker signs ERFA tender

The last of the #Chiefs’ three exclusive rights free agents has signed his contract tender.

In early March, the Kansas City Chiefs extended a qualifying contract offer to cornerback DeAndre Baker, an exclusive rights free agent. On Friday, Baker officially signed that contract, according to the NFL’s personnel notice. This is merely a formality ensuring he’ll be back with the team for the 2022 season.

ERFAs are veteran free agents who have yet to accrue three seasons in the NFL. Their original team holds exclusive negotiating rights. If an ERFA is tendered a qualifying contract offer by his team prior to free agency, he is unable to refuse that offer. He can reach unrestricted free agency only if the team declines to extend a qualifying offer or pulls the qualifying offer.

Baker, who has accrued two NFL seasons, was expected to get a one-year deal worth $925,000. Salaries for ERFAs are typically very low, amounting to very little in terms of salary cap impact.

The Chiefs first signed Baker to the practice squad in 2020. He was promoted to the 53-man roster via standard elevation twice that year. Baker suffered a serious noncontact leg fracture in the final game of the regular season. He 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 defensed.

Baker should be in the mix for more playing time in 2022. With injuries to Rashad Fenton, Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams, it’s possible that Baker works his way onto the first team early in training camp.

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