Javon Baker Draft Profile | UCF, WR Scouting Report

The 2024 NFL Draft class has a lot of room for playmakers to rise. One of the most competitive wide receivers in the nation is UCF’s Javon Baker. We’re diving into Baker’s scouting report as the senior plays his final season in college.

Javon Baker Draft Profile and Measurements

• Height: 6’1″
• Weight: 197
• School: UCF

Starting his career at Alabama, Baker produced nine receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown across two seasons as a reserve player. He immediately made an impact with UCF in 2022, catching 56 passes for 796 yards and five scores.

Javon Baker Scouting Report

Strengths

• A strong frame allows Baker to win with strength at the catch point and power as a ball carrier.
• A high-effort player who competes through the whistle. He’ll earn every yard available to him.
• Great reaction time and reflexes give him a large catch radius to work with.
• Comfortable making diving catches or finishing through contact.
• Extends his frame to get his hands on the ball and shows off the “my ball” attitude.
• Good concentration along the sideline to keep his feet inbounds.
• Has enough burst to create separation at the end of routes.

Weaknesses

• Struggles to create separation on the majority of his routes. His lack of acceleration and deep speed limits his upside.
• Will need to be schemed into space to maximize his post-catch production. His power is noticeable, but defenders on his hips can bring him down despite his aggressiveness.
• Attention to detail on routes is lacking. Rounds off routes and footwork aren’t clean enough for defenders to pay attention to.
• Could improve his versatility. Often featured on isolated routes or screens, but more snaps in the slot or as a movement player pre-snap could bring Baker more value.
• Will need a trusting quarterback for him to stick on a roster long-term. Someone who has to see him open may not create chemistry.

Current Draft Projection and Summary

There’s a clear ceiling for where players like Baker get drafted, and it’s Day 3 of the draft. Baker is incredibly fun to root for because he’s vicious on the playing field. Baker is built with a rock-solid body and knows he has the strength advantage against opponents.

He combines this with excellent reaction skills and concentration ability to finish while covered. But there’s a reason defenders are right on his hip on most throws. And that’s because Baker doesn’t have the quickness or vertical speed to often get over the top of defenders.

MORE: Top Wide Receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft

That puts a premium focus on Baker’s quarterbacks to not only trust him as a receiver to finish at the catch point but also on themselves to make tough throws. Baker does everything he can to win on back-shoulder throws or misfires, but it’s still tough to envision him earning a starting role for most teams.

Baker can be a great depth piece and role player on the right team. It’d help him to be moved around more at UCF and show off his ability to create mismatches, but he’s more of a traditional power-possession threat than an explosive presence.