Mel Kiper Jr. calls UCF, former Alabama WR Javon Baker a player to know in the 2024 NFL Draft

With plenty of receiver talent on the board for the 2024 NFL Draft, it’d be easy for some names to slip in the mix. Even so, Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t letting that include Javon Baker based on how he views him as a prospect.

Kiper Jr. tabbed Baker as a receiver that we should know more about ahead of the draft during ‘First Draft’ with Field Yates on Monday. He deep dove into him as a player based on what he showed off over four seasons at two programs.

“This is a guy at 6’1 and a half, 208 pounds. He has got body control, he adjusts to the poorly thrown football,” said Kiper Jr.. “He has got length, vertical stretch ability. Tracks that deep ball very well.”

“This is a kid that is smooth. He’s athletic,” Kiper Jr. continued.

One key note that Kiper Jr. added was Baker’s improvement in explosiveness this past season. While he remained productive throughout his two seasons with the Knights, his leap in terms of yards per catch only added to his stock in terms of becoming a pro at the next level.

“This past year, though? The improvement that he showed in terms of big-play ability? He has 22 yard per catch averages this year,” Kiper Jr. explained. “22 yards per catch average up from 14 as you see.”

“Both years? Consistent in terms of receptions with 52 and 56. I love the jump up in terms of making plays, getting down the field, and making impact performances routine, basically,” said Kiper Jr.. “Game after game? He was impactful.”

Baker started his career at Alabama where he arrived as a four-star prospect and Top-50 WR. In two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Baker caught nine passes for 116 yards, good for 12.9 per reception, and one score. Then, after his sophomore season, he transferred to Orlando to play at UCF.

In two more seasons with the Knights, Baker became the team’s top receiver. He caught 108 passes in total for 1,935 yards and a dozen touchdowns. While he had four less catches this past fall as a senior, he posted nearly 350 more receiving yards, which improved his average yards per catch by 7.7, and two more scores

Baker may very well slide in the draft come April due to the depth at his position in the class. However, if a team wants a steal at the position outside the well-known names early, Kiper Jr. is circling him as an option that franchises might want to get familiar with over the next two months.

“Javon Baker, to me, is a guy that, as I say, if he gets lost in the shuffle with all these slot receivers, outside guys, all the talent we have at wide receiver? We can get to 25 receivers very easily that we think we like and can play in the National Football League,” said Kiper Jr.. “Somebody like Javon Baker may get into that mix. We’ll say, ‘Boy, how is he still there in the fourth, fifth round?’ if he gets down that far.”

“I don’t think he will but, if it happens? Boy, he can be a steal,” Kiper Jr. said.