New York Giants select Deandre Baker 30th in first round of 2019 NFL Draft
ATHENS — Georgia football All-American Deandre Baker is headed to New York City after the Gianta chose him with the 3oth pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Baker, the 2018 Thorpe Award winner, had been projected as high as No. 10 in the first round.
RELATED: 3 things about Deandre Baker
The Giants traded up with Seattle to get the 30th pick.
Many analysts debated which cornerback would be selected first, Baker or LSU cornerback Greedy Williams.
It turned out Baker was the first cornerback off the board.
Baker has been considered the more polished of the two, while Williams’ length and 40-yard dash speed (4.37 seconds) is viewed as giving him the potential for more upside.
But where immediate performance in concerned, it’s clear Baker is a proven, having not given up a touchdown pass since the 2016 season.
There are plenty of other metrics that prove Baker’s worth, such as the fact that he gave up the fewest yards in the SEC per coverage snap.
Deandre Baker only gave up a lowly 0.46 yards per coverage snap this season, leading draft eligible SEC cornerbacks. pic.twitter.com/PFK8SBCrWk
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) March 23, 2019
Baker was also among the best defending the deep pass.
Defending the deep ball is tough to do and is key to stopping offenses in today’s NFL. Who were the best cornerbacks in this category? Take a look ⬇️ 👀https://t.co/FiAHCHqT01 pic.twitter.com/9sjhlDm2m7
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) March 30, 2019
My numbers speak for themselves,” Baker said on the NFL Network. “I only gave up one touchdown my whole college career. I haven’t given up a touchdown in two years, no receiver ad 100 yards on me — I just produce, that’s what I do.”
Baker ran a 4.52-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine which he improved to a 4.47 at the Georgia football pro day on March 20 with representatives from all 32 teams on hand.
Deandre Baker DawgNation stories
Georgia CB Deandre Baker shuts out top Missouri receiver
Deandre Baker explains fearless approach on field
Georgia could have 10 drafted, starts with Deandre Baker
Deandre Baker makes NFL combine debut on stage
Deandre Baker highlights
The Future Is Now, @DreBaker1_ #NFLDraft #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/KvvUaFpjLm
— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) April 25, 2019
