Tag: kawaan baker

Two other teams sign a couple of former Saints wide receivers

The Saints only have a handful of receivers signed for 2024, and players they brought into training camp last year are getting snapped up by other teams:

Do the New Orleans Saints have a problem at wide receiver? Maybe, maybe not. Not in the sense that they don’t have good players: Chris Olave and A.T. Perry are returning for 2024, and Rashid Shaheed will come back on an exclusive-rights free agent deal, too.

But Michael Thomas is on the way out; his contract is set up for him to be released as a post-June 1 cut in March. And at some point the Saints need to start signing players to fill out practice reps at training camp. New Orleans brought a dozen receivers into camp last summer and right now they only have two (technically three). Of those twelve receivers, three are still with the Saints (including Thomas), three are on other teams, and six are free agents (including Shaheed, whose only CBA-allowed option is to re-sign with the Saints). A thirteenth receiver, Jontre Kirklin, arrived late in camp and is currently competing with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.

And some of those players who competed in camp last year are getting snapped up by other teams. The New England Patriots signed former seventh-round draft pick Kawaan Baker to a reserve/future deal this week, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. So did Tre’Quan Smith, who is going to the Detroit Lions, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Several practice squad receivers were not retained after the 2023 season. Fan-favorite rookie Shaquan Davis left for the Philadelphia Eagles. Longtime backup Marquez Callaway signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There aren’t many familiar names left out there.

Ideally the Saints would add enough quality players to keep them on the practice squad if they’re in consideration at all. But that’s not the point. They could run into trouble relying on a ton of undrafted rookies to fill out the depth chart. Odds are they’ll sign some veterans in free agency in March, though it’s possible a couple of qualifying players could sign reserve/future deals in the near future.

Why the delay? The Saints don’t have a wide receivers coach right now. They know that Klint Kubiak will be their offensive coordinator, but missing a position coach could complicate things. They need a clear vision of what to look for in evaluating new additions. Until Kubiak is officially hired and a receivers coach named, this process may continue to draw out.

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Saints waive wide receiver Kawaan Baker, their former 2021 draft pick

Report: The Saints are waiving wide receiver Kawaan Baker, their former 2021 draft pick. He’s spent time on their practice squad before and could return in that capacity

The hits keep coming: the New Orleans Saints waived third-year wide receiver Kawaan Baker, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett. Baker was a seventh-round pick out of South Alabama in the 2021 NFL draft, and this isn’t a new experience for him. He’s been let go by the Saints and returned to their practice squad before while experiencing brief stops with teams like the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Still, it’s tough to see his efforts go unrewarded. Baker put in a lot of work to develop into an asset on special teams, and he was one of the Saints’ most-consistent players covering punts and kickoffs in the preseason. His punt recovery deep inside enemy territory in the first exhibition matchup stands out as a big positive in his favor. Maybe that will help him draw more attention on the waiver wire and as teams build their practice squads later this week.

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Every Round 7 draft pick the Saints have chosen since 2002

NFL draft: Every New Orleans Saints seventh-round pick since 2002, highlighted by Zach Strief and Marques Colston in 2006

The seventh and final round of the annual NFL draft has brought mixed results to the New Orleans Saints — they hit home runs on both of their seventh-round picks back in 2006, giving fans hope that every subsequent seventh rounder could be the next Zach Strief or Marques Colston. But more often than not these late-round fliers haven’t panned out. The drop in prospect quality from earlier in the draft is often just too tough to overcome.

Still, with the Saints picking twice in the seventh round this year, it’s worth looking back on past results to set a realistic expectation for the upcoming rookies. Here’s the Saints draft history in Round 7 and every other phase of the draft under longtime general manager Mickey Loomis:

Saints sign a new kicker among four reserve/future deals

The Saints signed new kicker Alex Quevedo among four reserve/future deals while bringing back practice squad wide receiver Kawaan Baker:

The New Orleans Saints filed a couple of roster moves on Thursday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire, reporting four new reserve/future signings. These are low-cost additions to the offseason roster largely made up of players who were on practice squads around the league at the end of the 2022 season.

And there are a few familiar names on the list of new arrivals. Wide receiver Kawaan Baker is returning from the Saints practice squad, and they’ve brought back second-year kicker Alex Quevedo for another tryout after giving him a look last summer. Here’s what you need to know about the newest members of the black and gold:

8 Saints practice squad players not brought back for 2023

Wide receiver Kevin White is among 8 New Orleans Saints practice squad players who weren’t brought back for 2023 on a reserve/future contract:

The New Orleans Saints retained half of their 16-man practice squad and added a couple of new players on reserve/future contracts for the 2023 season, but the other half of their practice squad hasn’t been retained for the upcoming offseason. These reserve/future contracts are low-cost deals to help fill out the 90-man summer roster, so why wouldn’t the Saints bring back everyone possible if they were already in the building?

They could have any number of reasons — players could choose to pass on the offer and try their luck with other teams, they may be considering retirement, or the Saints could simply choose to go in a different direction. If the team’s plans change, those players could probably be brought back easily enough on a standard contract. At the end of day, those reasons are their own, and these guys are now free agents who can try out and sign with whoever they please. So who wasn’t brought back from 2022? Let’s explore:

Eagles release 3 players from the practice squad ahead of Week 14 matchup vs. Giants

Philadelphia Eagles release Anthony Rush, Javelin Guidry, and Kawaan Baker from the practice squad.

The Eagles announced three 53-man roster moves ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Giants and also made three corresponding practice squad moves as well.

Talented defensive end Janarius Robinson was activated to the active roster from the injured reserve, and safety Andre Chachere was waived from the active roster. and veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn was placed on injured reserve.

Eagles sign 3 players to the practice squad; Release DT Marvin Wilson

After cutting two players on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles signed WR Auden Tate, WR Kawaan Baker, and OL Tyrese Robinson to the practice squad

After releasing Kennedy Brooks and Roderick Johnson, the Eagles have signed three players to the 16-man practice squad.

Philadelphia signed wide receiver Auden Tate, wide receiver Kawaan Baker, and offensive lineman Tyrese Robinson to the practice squad, and opened the 21- day practice window for defensive tackle Jordan Davis.

The Eagles also released defensive tackle Marvin Wilson from the practice squad.

Jaguars bring in 2 wide receivers for tryouts

The Jaguars brought in two receivers in for a tryout Monday, including a Canadian Football League standout.

The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted wide receivers Kawaan Baker and Kian Schaffer-Baker on Monday for tryouts.

Baker, 24, was a seventh-round pick for the New Orleans Saints last year and missed the first six games of the 2022 season due to a suspension for a performance-enhancing drug violation. He was later released by the team and spent some time on the Green Bay Packers practice squad before he was released by the Packers earlier this month.

Schaffer-Baker, 24, is a receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. In two seasons with the team, the 6’4 receiver has 115 career receptions for 1,523 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Jaguars currently have six receivers on the active roster: Jamal Agnew, Christian Kirk, Marvin Jones Jr., Tim Jones, Zay Jones, and Kendric Pryor. Another three receivers — Kevin Austin Jr., Jaylon Moore, and Seth Williams — are on the practice squad.

Jacksonville also acquired currently suspended receiver Calvin Ridley in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons in October.

Packers release WR Kawaan Baker from practice squad

The Green Bay Packers cleared a spot on the 16-player practice squad by releasing wide receiver Kawaan Baker on Tuesday.

The Green Bay Packers cleared a spot on the 16-player practice squad by releasing wide receiver Kawaan Baker on Tuesday.

Baker (6-1, 210) was initially signed by the Packers on Oct. 16.

It’s possible the Packers will fill the open spot with a specialist after working out a pair of kickers on Tuesday.

Baker was a seventh-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 draft. He spent most of his rookie season on the Saints’ practice squad.

At South Alabama, Baker caught 126 passes for 1,829 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed 82 times for 376 yards and 11 touchdowns.

At receiver, Juwann Winfree and Travis Fulgham remain on the practice squad for the Packers.

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Former Saints WR Kawaan Baker signs with the Packers after serving 6-game suspension

Former Saints WR Kawaan Baker signed with the Packers practice squad after serving his 6-game suspension:

A couple of former New Orleans Saints wide receivers found new teams this week. Kawaan Baker finished serving his 6-game suspension for an offseason PEDs policy violation and ended up signing with the Green Bay Packers practice squad following a group tryout.

Baker, 24, was selected by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft out of South Alabama but struggled to find snaps in the rotation despite a wave of injuries hitting the position in each of his two years in black and gold. Now he’s wearing No. 82 in Green Bay.

If there’s anything positive to take away here, it may be that the Saints feel optimistic about Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry getting off of the injury report soon. With Chris Olave back in the lineup, Baker would have been hard-pressed to get into games ahead of Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, Rashid Shaheed, and practice squad receivers Kevin White and Kirk Merritt. Green Bay’s receiving corps is banged-up and talent-poor, so there are better opportunities for him up north.

And the Seattle Seahawks picked up former Saints wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. after a group tryout. A former Washington State Cougar, Winston spent most of the last year on New Orleans’ practice squad but was waived late in the summer during roster cuts. He’s on the Seattle practice squad closer to home after pursuing a couple of different opportunities as a free agent.

Quite a few former Saints players tried out for other teams this week. Here’s the full list, per the daily NFL transactions wire:

  • WR Kawaan Baker (Green Bay Packers-signed)

  • WR Easop Winston Jr. (Seattle Seahawks-signed)

  • WR Dai’Jean Dixon (Seattle Seahawks)

  • CB DaMarcus Fields (Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers)

  • CB Tre Swilling (San Francisco 49ers)

  • CB Ken Crawley (Tennessee Titans)

  • RB Abram Smith (Miami Dolphins)

  • OL Sage Doxtater (Arizona Cardinals)

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