Way back in 2019, which seems like forever ago thanks to COVID, the New York Giants drafted cornerback Deandre Baker out of Georgia. He was selected in the first round, the 30th overall pick and big things were expected from him.
Except those things never happened because Baker was arrested on robbery charges during the summer of 2020. The Giants waived Baker in September of 2020 and he signed to the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad.
Baker was eventually cleared of all charges, but the stain on his character was already there.
In 2022, the Chiefs waived Baker and he mostly disappeared from the landscape until this June when he suited up for the UFL’s DC Defenders, earning a spot on the 2024 All-UFL team.
Now Baker is working on making his way back to the NFL.
Former #Giants first-round pick CB Deandre Baker, who last played in the NFL in 2021, has hired new representation @PetersonSports as he trains for a potential return.
Baker played this past summer with the DC Defenders, earning All-UFL honors. He turns 27 next month. pic.twitter.com/GrOWaYHoV8
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 21, 2024
As a rookie with the Giants, Baker recorded 61 tackles (48 solo) and eight passes defensed. Over his two seasons with the Chiefs, he appeared in 10 games and earned 21 tackles (17 solo), one sack and two passes defensed.
Baker hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021, but he hopes to be back sooner than later.