Deandre Baker

Deandre Lamar Baker (born September 4, 1997) is an American football cornerback for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Georgia and was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Baker played one season with the Giants before being released by them due to charges of armed robbery, which were later dropped. He has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Deandre Baker

Baker with the New York Giants in 2019
No. 25 – DC Defenders
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1997-09-04) September 4, 1997 (age 26) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Miami Northwestern (Florida)
College:	Georgia (2015–2018)
NFL draft:	2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 30
Career history
New York Giants (2019) Kansas City Chiefs (2020–2021) DC Defenders (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Jim Thorpe Award (2018) Consensus All-American (2018)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 82 Sacks: 1.0 Pass deflections: 10
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

During his time at Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Baker was an All-American sprinter and participated in the 4 × 100 metres relay on the second leg.^[1]

College career

Baker signed with Georgia on national signing day, despite speculation that he would sign with Texas based on a tweet he sent out the night before.^[2] As a true freshman at Georgia in 2015, Baker played in 11 games. During the 2016 season, Baker was injured in a game against Vanderbilt. He recovered, but was later injured against Georgia Tech.^[3] Following the 2017 season, Baker was named to the Second-team All-Southeastern Conference.^[4] Baker considered declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft, but he ultimately elected to return to school for his senior year.^[5]

Baker was one of the best cornerbacks in college football in his senior season. He allowed only 175 yards and a 40.2 NFL passer rating to opposing receivers in 2018, which both ranked in the top 5 of all draft eligible cornerbacks with a minimum of 300 coverage snaps. He was named a consensus 2018 All-American and won the Jim Thorpe Award, awarded to the best defensive back in college football. Over his entire 4-year tenure at Georgia, Baker only allowed one touchdown.^[6] Baker entered the 2019 NFL Draft as one of the best cornerback prospects.

College statistics

Year	GP	Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		Solo	Ast	Total	Loss	Sack	Int	Yards	Avg	TD	PD	FR	Yards	TD	FF
2015	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	8	21	10	31	1	1	2	27	13.5	0	5	1	0	0	1
2017	15	30	14	44	1	0	3	37	12.3	0	9	0	0	0	0
2018	12	31	9	40	2	0	2	81	40.5	0	9	0	0	0	1

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	32 in (0.81 m)	9 in (0.23 m)	4.51 s	1.60 s	2.63 s	4.27 s	6.95 s	31.5 in (0.80 m)	9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)	14 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day^[7]^[8]^[9]

New York Giants

 

Baker (center) in a 2019 game against the Washington Redskins

Baker was selected by the New York Giants in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft.^[10] The Giants had traded up with the Seattle Seahawks to acquire the pick giving up their 37th, 132nd and 142nd picks.^[11]

Baker was placed on the commissioner's exempt list on July 27, 2020, following his May 2020 arrest.^[12] The Giants waived Baker on September 8, 2020.^[13]

Kansas City Chiefs

On November 19, 2020, Baker was signed to the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs.^[14] He was elevated to the active roster on December 19, December 26, and January 2, 2021, for the team's weeks 15, 16, and 17 games against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Los Angeles Chargers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.^[15][16][17] Against the Chargers, Baker broke his femur on a non-contact play, becoming only the second NFL player to suffer a broken femur during a game. During the game, Baker recorded his first career sack on Justin Herbert.^[18] He was placed on the practice squad/injured list on January 12, 2021.^[19]

On February 9, 2021, Baker re-signed with the Chiefs.^[20] He was waived on August 7, 2022.^[21]

DC Defenders

On January 25, 2024, Baker signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL).^[22]

NFL career statistics

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Fumbles			Interceptions
		GP	GS	Comb	Solo	Ast	Sack	FF	FR	Yds	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2019	NYG	16	15	61	48	13	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	8
2020	KC	2	1	5	4	1	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2021	KC	8	1	16	13	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
Career		26	17	82	65	17	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	10

Personal life

On May 14, 2020, a warrant was issued for Baker's arrest under charges of armed robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm, along with Quinton Dunbar of the Seattle Seahawks.^[23] The following day, Baker's lawyer issued a statement claiming that he was in possession of multiple affidavits allegedly exonerating his client.^[24] The two allegedly robbed guests at gunpoint during a house party and had turned themselves in to the police by May 16.^[25][26] On August 7, 2020, Baker was charged with four counts of robbery with a firearm.^[27] There was evidence suggesting the alleged victims accepted $55,000 in exchange for changing their story in regards to Dunbar.^[28] On November 16, 2020, the charges against Baker were dropped.^[29][30]

References

1. Brumund-Smith, John (January 8, 2018). "ALABAMA VS. GEORGIA IN A 4X100M RELAY. WHO WINS?". Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Association. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
2. Butler, Alex (February 4, 2015). "Despite a Texas tease, Northwestern's DeAndre Baker signs with Georgia". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
3. Butt, Jason (October 24, 2016). "Deandre Baker returns to practice after getting treatment over weekend". Macon Telegraph. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
4. "2017 All-SEC Football Team announced". SEC Sports. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
5. Emerson, Seth (January 15, 2018). "Georgia CB Deandre Baker makes decision on NFL draft". DawgNation.com. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
6. McGuinness, Gordon (April 8, 2019). "Why Georgia's DeAndre Baker is a first-round talent in the 2019 NFL Draft". PFF. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
7. "Deandre Baker Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
8. "2019 Draft Scout DeAndre Baker, Georgia NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
9. "Deandre Baker 2019 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
10. "2019 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
11. "Giants pick Deandre Baker in NFL draft after trading back into first round". New York Post. April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
12. "NFL places CB DeAndre Baker on Commissioner Exempt List". Giants.com. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
13. Eisen, Michael (September 8, 2020). "Giants waive cornerback DeAndre Baker". www.giants.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
14. Alper, Josh (November 19, 2020). "Andy Reid on DeAndre Baker: He'll be asked to work hard and keep his nose clean". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
15. Goldman, Charles (December 19, 2020). "Chiefs announce flurry of roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
16. Goldman, Charles (December 26, 2020). "Chiefs announce several roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
17. Goldman, Charles (January 2, 2021). "Chiefs announce flurry of new roster moves on Saturday". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
18. "Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – January 3rd, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
19. Goldman, Charles (January 12, 2021). "Chiefs sign QB Jordan Ta'amu to practice squad, cut Tyler Clark". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
20. Alper, Josh (February 10, 2021). "Chiefs sign Deandre Baker for 2021". NBCSports.com. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
21. Dixon, John (August 7, 2022). "Chiefs release cornerback Deandre Baker". SBNation.com. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
22. "The UFL Agrees to Terms with 5 Players". UFLBoard.com. January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
23. Rosenblatt, Zack (May 14, 2020). "Giants' DeAndre Baker to be arrested for armed robbery: Has he turned himself in yet? What happened? Here are more details". nj. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
24. Lombardo, Matt (May 16, 2020). "Attorney for Giants' DeAndre Baker claims witness affidavits reveal cornerback's innocence of armed robbery charges". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
25. "NFL players surrender after robbery charge". BBC News. May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
26. Smith, Michael David (May 16, 2020). "Attorney says Deandre Baker turned himself in this morning". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
27. Smith, Michael David (August 7, 2020). "DeAndre Baker faces four robbery charges, Quinton Dunbar not charged". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
28. Benton, Dan (July 11, 2020). "DeAndre Baker's attorneys dispute alleged pay-off cover-up". Giants Wire. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
29. Raanan, Jordan (November 16, 2020). "All charges dropped against ex-Giants CB Baker". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
30. Olmeda, Rafael (November 16, 2020). "Lawyer accused of attempting to extort ex-NFL player DeAndre Baker". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved November 16, 2020.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deandre Baker.

• Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
• College stats at Sports-Reference.com
• Georgia Bulldogs bio