Deandre Baker | CB | Georgia
Height | 5-11
Weight | 185
Class | Senior
PROS
- Prefers press-man, press-bail coverage to zone assignments. Loves to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage in press and can minimize receivers’ space by using firm arm bars and smart positioning.
- Quick-footed in his transition with the speed to match receivers off the line of scrimmage.
- Uses his body to cut off routes, understanding how to leverage the field and sideline.
- Loves to keep an eye on the QB and jump short routes. Elite instincts allow him to interpret routes and scheme to deflect passes and contest almost every target.
- Shows good recovery speed and a quick burst to compliment his length at the catch point. Knocked a lot of passes down at the last second.
- Hard-nosed physical cornerback, with football intelligence and great understanding of technical nuances.
- 2018 Jim Thorpe winner
CONS
- Shorter than ideal and his lack of length and size will show up at times, especially against good-sized targets.
- Needs to develop his functional strength to be a sound run defender.
- Not as comfortable in off-coverage and still developing his coverage anticipation and understanding of route concepts.
- Choppy footwork and hip tightness creates a hitch in his transition. Surrenders inside position too easily.
Summary
Baker’s production and experience cannot be ignored. Facing top-tier competition at Georgia, he earned reps and learned through trial and error. With solid press technique, he’s hard to separate from. Quick breaks and clean footwork sometimes work, but for receivers to gain optimal separation, they have to force him into mistakes and false steps. Baker’s combination of experience and elite level production should make him one of the first corner off the board.
