Coming off his senior season in which he was a first team All-American for Georgia, cornerback Deandre Baker could hear his name called early in this years' draft.
While the Redskins signed cornerback Quinton Dunbar to a multi-year extension last season, and traded for safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at the trade deadline, CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso believes Washington could add another playmaker to the back end of its defense with the 15th-overall selection in this years' draft.
Will Washington spend their first round pick on a cornerback for the first time since 2005, and only the third time in franchise history?
"Baker provides much better value here," Trapasso writes. "Baker is a long-tenured producer in the SEC with elite mirroring ability and ball skills. He had 18 pass breakups and five interceptions over the past two seasons at Georgia."
In four seasons at Georgia, Baker made 114 tackles with 31 passes defensed while collecting seven interceptions.
During his senior season in 2018, Baker was named an All-American as he collected 40 tackles with 12 passes defensed. He also recorded two interceptions along with a forced fumble.
At Missouri on Sept. 22, Baker made seven tackles, and also recovered a fumble. Baker's career high in tackles came in 2016 where he recorded ten vs SEC foe Florida.
As a junior in 2017, Baker was selected by the coaches of the SEC as a member of the second-team All-SEC team. Baker proved he was one of the top corners in college football in 2018 and was named the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back. He was also named a semi-finalist for the Bednarik Award, given to the top-overall defensive player in college football.
According to his Draft Network player profile, Baker is "feisty and energetic in his play demeanor. Physical at the line of scrimmage. Despite not being the biggest corner, seems to have solid length. Experience playing in press, press-bail, off-man or zone. Mentally sharp and constantly alert in his area. Press coverage is a strength, typically in control at line of scrimmage and rides receivers off the snap with good technique. Physical down the field to avoid getting stacked. Does his job in the run game, turns things back inside as a perimeter defender. Experienced playing both outside corner spots and the nickel."
