.jpg) Baker with theNew York Giants in 2019 | |||||||||
| No. 2 – DC Defenders | |||||||||
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| Position | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1997-09-04)September 4, 1997 (age 28) Miami, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Miami Northwestern | ||||||||
| College | Georgia (2015–2018) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2019: 1st round, 30th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Deandre Lamar Baker (born September 4, 1997) is an American professionalfootballcornerback for theDC Defenders of theUnited Football League (UFL). He playedcollege football atGeorgia and was selected by theNew York Giants in the first round of the2019 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 theKansas City Chiefs.
During his time atMiami Northwestern Senior High School, Baker was anAll-American sprinter and participated in the4 × 100 metres relay on the second leg.[1]
Baker signed with Georgia onNational Signing Day, despite speculation that he would sign withTexas 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 againstVanderbilt. He recovered, but was later injured againstGeorgia Tech.[3] Following the 2017 season, Baker was named to the Second-teamAll-Southeastern Conference.[4] Baker considered declaring for the2018 NFL draft, but he ultimately elected to return to school for his senior year.[5]
Baker was one of the bestcornerbacks 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 coveragesnaps. He was named a consensus2018All-American and won theJim 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 the2019 NFL draft as one of the best cornerback prospects.
| 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 |
| 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 fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[7][8][9] | ||||||||||||
Baker was selected by the New York Giants in the first round, 30th overall, of the2019 NFL draft.[10] The Giants had traded up with theSeattle 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]
On November 19, 2020, Baker was signed to thepractice squad of theKansas 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 theNew Orleans Saints,Atlanta Falcons, andLos Angeles Chargers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[15][16][17] Against the Chargers, Baker broke hisfemur 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 onJustin 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]
On January 25, 2024, Baker signed with theDC Defenders of theUnited Football League (UFL).[22] He was named to the 2024 All-UFL team on June 5, 2024.[23] On June 2, 2025, Baker was named to the 2025 All-UFL Team.[24]
| 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 | |
On May 14, 2020, a warrant was issued for Baker's arrest under charges ofarmed robbery andaggravated assault with a firearm, along withQuinton Dunbar of theSeattle Seahawks.[25] The following day, Baker's lawyer issued a statement claiming that he was in possession of multipleaffidavits allegedly exonerating his client.[26] The two allegedly robbed guests at gunpoint during a house party and had turned themselves in to the police by May 16.[27][28] On August 7, 2020, Baker was charged with four counts of robbery with a firearm.[29] There was evidence suggesting the alleged victims accepted $55,000 in exchange for changing their story in regards to Dunbar.[30] On November 16, 2020, the charges against Baker were dropped.[31][32]
