Last season, New York Giants draft pick Saquon Barkley began rookie OTAs playing sparingly with the first team offense. However, by the time mandatory minicamp rolled around, Barkley had moved up the team’s depth chart and took off with the starting role.
This season, it appears to be a similar story for former Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker, who the Giants traded three picks to be able to acquire in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
During OTAs, Baker played a bit with the defensive starters, impressing coaches and teammates. When mandatory minicamp began on Tuesday, though, Baker had found himself as a starting outside corner opposite of Janoris Jenkins.
So far, Baker has been playing well, breaking up multiple passes with his quick, active hands.
“It was fast out there, so it was hard to see who was making the plays sometimes, but he has been doing that on a pretty steady basis,” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “I think he has made a play or two at each practice. Again, just learning how to compete at this level.”
Baker made his living at Georgia playing bump and run coverage, completely taking the opposing receiver out of the play. At this point in Giants camp, however, corners are not permitted to engage in this kind of coverage, but Baker has still been finding success playing off the receiver, which has impressed his coach most of all.
“Unfortunately, you can’t do a whole bunch of bump and run and press coverage, so the corners are at a little bit of a disadvantage,” Shurmur said. “However, you need to learn to play off and for him to be able to make plays in those situations is good.”
