Mikail Baker 6'0" 205
KR, Baylor
2006: Played in all 12 games. 23.7-yard average on 33 kickoff returns. Eight receptions for 65 yards (8.1 ypc) and a TD.
2005: Played in 9 games. Eight receptions for 158 yards (19.8 ypc) and a TD.
Academics: Graduated with degree in general studies. Twice granted medical hardship (see next).
Rankings:
NFLDraftScout.com: #744 player overall, #75 cornerback. Free-agent grade, surely.
Pro Football Weekly and DraftCountdown do not even list Baker. And PFW lists two other Baylor corners.
Biography/Honors:
2010: Played 12 of 13 games. 37 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and an INT at corner.
2009: Played in three games. 25.2-yard kickoff return average on 9 attempts. 2 tackles and an INT at corner.
2008: Played in 11 of 12 games, with one start at wide receiver. 25.3-yard average and one TD on kickoff returns. Four receptions for 44 yards (11.0 ypc).
2007: Played in two games. Four kickoff returns for 25.8-yard average. Six receptions for 87 yards (14.5 ypc).
Injuries:
2009: Missed most of season due to torn ACL and torn medial and lateral minisci.
2007: Missed most of season due to broken collarbone.
Pro Day results (not invited to NFL Combine):
4.41 40-yard dash
38.0 vertical
10'10" broad jump
7.13 3-cone drill
4.00 20-yard shuttle
Positives:
Pretty remarkable timed speed given his injury history. 4.4 40 at pro day would have been good for 4th-best at the Combine for WRs, and his broad jump was better than everyone's except Julio Jones. 20-yard shuttle time would have also been 4th-best. Results obviously speak well to his speed and explosiveness. Hits the crease well on kickoff returns and is gone. Very hard to catch. Exceptional speed gives him potential to be dangerous as a gunner on punts or outside man on kickoff coverage. Runs well through traffic on kickoffs. Quick reaction and closing speed at corner on smoke routes and quick screens. Also played some safety. Nice edge defender. Forced fumble to preserve 2010 win over Texas. Shows some ability to flash in late and break up passes. Good speed, nice soft hands at wide receiver.
Negatives:
Will be 24 when training camp starts. Significant injury history. Realistically no more than a year of college playing experience at either wide receiver or cornerback. Baylor allowed 27.7 points per game, 34 per game in the Big 12 Or Maybe 10, largely because they couldn't defend the pass. Little hint Baker can remotely press-cover; in his highlight reel, he's always 6-8 yards off the line at the snap. Value appears to be strictly as a kick returner, and an NFL player usually needs to have an additional skill to stick on a roster. And kickoff returns may have taken a big hit when the league moved kickoffs back up to the 35 in the offseason.
Compares to: if he's damn lucky, former Ram Chris Johnson. Similar size, stopwatch-breaking speed, came up as a kick returner. Johnson has transitioned to cornerback in the NFL with reasonable success. Just don't step out of bounds at the 1 on any of your returns, Mikail.
Fun Facts:
Did you know the plural of "meniscus" is "menisci"? I was guessing "menisces". Mikail's unfortunate to have had to learn that in person. The aspirant TV broadcaster is an alum of Skyline High (what a cool name) in Dallas, which has also produced Olympic sprinting champion Michael Johnson and former NBA star Larry "Grandmama" Johnson.
RamView:
Strictly a stopwatch pick here, with Baker having run 4.40 at Baylor's pro day, and we know what RamView thinks of stopwatch picks. Also, the main reason to draft Baker would appear to be as a kick returner. The offseason rule change in the NFL, moving kickoffs back up to the 35, seemed to take care of the Rams' problems there, though. Do you need to draft a player to watch kickoffs sail over his head? Wishing him the best, but this pick looks like a waste from here. Thumbs down.
Sources: NFLDraftScout.com, DraftCountdown.com (Scott Wright), BleacherReport.com, Baylor Athletics, ESPN.com, Wikipedia, Crimson and Cream Machine (Oklahoma football blog), Ranker.com, Youtube, NFL.com
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