The New York Giants officially waived embattled former first round pick, cornerback DeAndre Baker, on Tuesday.
Baker was the 30th overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Georgia and played in all 16 games with starts in each of the final 15 contests. He finished with 61 total tackles (48 solo) and eight passes defensed.
Baker struggled mightily for most of the season, getting torched for six touchdowns and allowing 15.7 yards per reception.
From the Giants’ press release:
Baker, 22, has been on the Commissioner’s Exempt List since July 27. Two weeks later, he was formally charged with four counts of robbery with a firearm stemming from an alleged May 13 incident at a house party in Miramar, Fla.
Baker has not participated in any Giants activities since the alleged incident. Asked about Baker’s status on a Zoom call with reporters last Thursday, Giants president and chief executive officer John Mara said, “a decision will be made sooner rather than later on that.
The Giants traded the 37th, 132nd and 142nd overall selections in the 2019 draft to the Seattle Seahawks for the 30th overall pick in order to draft Baker, who was considered a ‘lock-down’ corner. They now have nothing to show for that trade
For a team that needs as many players and draft picks as possible to hit and this is a major blow for a rebuilding team to absorb.
