Positional ranking: #1
Big Board ranking: #6
Overview
Position: CB
College: Georgia
Class: Senior
Age: 21
Measurables
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 193 lbs.
Arm length: 32”
Hand size: 9”
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: 4.52 sec.
Vertical jump: DNP
Broad jump: 118.0”
Bench press: 14 reps
3-cone drill: DNP
Short shuttle: DNP
Strengths
Shutdown boundary corner. Effectively mirrors in man-to-man coverage. Comfortable in press or off-man. Plays and looks longer on tape than the arm measurements suggest. Has exceptional feel for the game. Knows how to play the ball in the air with superb timing and patience. Uses the sideline to his advantage. Doesn’t get lost with his back to the quarterback. Doesn’t panic. Can distinguish route combinations zone coverage. Quick to diagnose and react. Great balls skills. Aggressive tackler. Quarterbacks rarely tested him in coverage. Didn’t allow touchdown in either of the past two seasons.
Weaknesses
Receivers run past him too often. Physicality could lead to penalties at the next level. Hips are a little stiff. Might not be as effective in the slot.
NFL comparison
Tre’Davious White – This isn’t a perfect comparison, but like Tre’Davious White, Baker is an elite cover corner that’s being severely undervalued based on unfounded concerns about size and athleticism against NFL talent.
Conclusion
Overall, Deandre Baker is a shutdown cover man that frustrates receivers by staying on their hip throughout the route. I like him best in an aggressive, man-to-man defense, but Baker can have success as a No. 1 cornerback in any scheme.
Good comp.
Great Comparison
Lol mega overrated.