The New York Giants just lost top wide receiver Malik Nabers for the season with a torn ACL, and his absence has left a crater-sized hole on offense.
With rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart officially taking the reins after his Week 4 win, it’s clear New York will need to add another playmaker to the fray.
If the Giants don’t want to make a trade for another wideout, one of the smartest, lowest-cost moves on the board would be to poach Javon Baker off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad and put him straight onto the 53.
“New York still has solid wide receivers in Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, but can’t rely on Jalin Hyatt to fill the void (even if he was a former third-round pick). The Giants need outside up to solve this problem, even if they are 1-3 and aren’t actually contending for a playoff berth this year,” Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports wrote on September 29, before naming Baker as a smart potential signing for New York.
A Closer Look at What Baker Brings to the Table
Philadelphia signed Baker to its practice squad on September 5, and he remains there as of September 30. Any team—including the Giants—can sign him away so long as he’s added to the active roster (and kept there for at least three weeks). One weekly wrinkle: clubs can designate a handful of protected practice-squad players, so the Eagles could also choose to protect him.
In college, Baker was a late bloomer at Alabama. He had nine catches for 116 yards and a TD in 2020-21, then detonated after transferring to UCF. In 2022 he finished with 56 catches for 796 yards and five scores.
In 2023, he turned into one of college football’s premier vertical threats with 52 catches for 1,139 yards and seven scores, averaging an absurd 21.9 yards per grab that led the Big 12 and helped land First-Team All-Big 12 honors.
The Patriots took him in the fourth round in 2024, and Baker played 11 games (one start) in New England as a rookie. He logged his first reception in Week 18 (one catch for 12 yards). He also returned three kicks for 79 yards, including a 46-yarder, so he has value on special teams, as well.
Why Signing WR Javon Baker Would Be a Good Thing for the New York Giants
Baker chose the Eagles practice squad over multiple other options, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. While he’s practicing with and learning from some of the NFL’s best players, he won’t see much playing time if he’s not on an active roster.
The 2024 fourth-round pick is on the Eagles practice squad as a developmental player, but perhaps can get some targets in New York with their depleted receiver room,” Kerr noted. “A player like Baker is worth taking a flyer on.”
Baker doesn’t have to walk in and be Nabers — few wideouts could hope to do that. But considering the cost (a roster spot and three weeks of salary) and the potential upside (a 23-year-old with big-play DNA), this could be a smart and savvy move for New York.