Kansas City Chiefs' latest top-30 visit compares to a wide receiver who thrived with Patrick Mahomes
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to host 2024 NFL draft prospects at 1 Arrowhead Drive for top-30 visits. One of the most recent reports has the Chiefs bringing in an underrated wide receiver prospect out of the University of Central Florida. As first reported by Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline, Kansas City will host Javon Baker on […]
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to host 2024 NFL draft prospects at 1 Arrowhead Drive for top-30 visits.
One of the most recent reports has the Chiefs bringing in an underrated wide receiver prospect out of the University of Central Florida. As first reported by Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline, Kansas City will host Javon Baker on a top-30 visit. The Chiefs already spoke to his quarterback, John Rhys Plumlee, at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Now, they're taking a look at his top target.
What is a top-30 visit?
Every pre-draft season, the NFL allows teams to host prospects on visits at team facilities. They're only allowed 30 visits, hence the top 30 visit moniker. Teams use these visits with different goals in mind, but for the most part, they're used as ways to gather more information about a specific prospect. Say a player has an injury history, teams typically will bring those players in to do physical examinations. The same thing goes for off-field issues or character concerns. Other times, teams simply want to know how a prospect would fit with the team culture.
The Chiefs use their top 30 visits in a variety of different ways, but it almost certainly denotes some level of interest. Often they'll bring in players who are expected to be priority free agents to impress upon them that this team is the right fit. Players who are expected to be drafted are also among pre-draft visits. Just last season Kansas City hosted a pair of their draft picks (Rashee Rice & BJ Thompson) on top-30 visits.
How does UCF WR Javon Baker fit with the Chiefs?
It's no surprise to see the Chiefs host a wide receiver on a pre-draft visit. Even following the addition of Hollywood Brown in free agency, Kansas City needs to continue adding pieces to that room.
Baker has mostly played out wide during his career with 664 snaps on the perimeter over the past three seasons compared to 157 snaps in the slot. No matter where he aligns, he's a physical presence, who can out-leverage smaller defenders.
Baker led the Big 12 with 1,139 receiving yards on 52 receptions with seven receiving touchdowns in 2023. His 21.9 yards per reception ranked second in the nation and helped him earn a First-Team All-Big 12 selection.
He has quite the arsenal of releases, but he didn't get to show off some of that creativity as he mostly worked vertical in the Knights' offense. He makes some tough contested catches and he's quite physical after the catch.
Stick routes, quick in-breaking, and out-breaking routes are in his repertoire, but there are some concerns about his ability to separate from defenders consistently in the NFL.
UCF WR Javon Baker compares to Demarcus Robinson
Baker's testing numbers and athleticism match up with Robinson, who quietly was a strong contributor in Kansas City alongside Patrick Mahomes. From 2018-2021, Robinson amassed 1,467 and 14 touchdowns on 124 receptions as a third or fourth option in the Chiefs' offense.
Here's how the two stack up against each other, from an athletic standpoint:
| Demarcus Robinson | Javon Baker | |
|---|---|---|
Height | 6-foot-1 | 6-foot-1 |
Weight | 203 | 202 |
40-yard dash | 4.59s | 4.54s |
Bench | n/a | n/a |
Vertical | 34.5″ | 37″ |
Broad | 123″ | 121 |
Shuttle | 4.19s | n/a |
3-cone | 6.77s | n./a |
A to Z Sports Athletic Composite | 46.4% | 50.8% |
A to Z Sports Speed Score | 30.9% | 44.9% |
A to Z Sports Burst Score | 51.5% | 61.8% |
A to Z Sports Agility Score | 76.8% | n/a |
BMI | 52.3% | 48.2% |
Baker compares to Robinson as an athlete, but I think his ceiling in the NFL is much higher than Robinson's ever was. He already does quite a few things better and I'm not sure he's as raw as Robinson was coming out of Florida.
Other top 30 visits so far:
- Oregon State WR Anthony Gould
- Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland
- Boston College OL Christian Mahogany
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