Javon Baker challenged by Patriots team captain to bring all that noise to Foxbrough

New England Patriots second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk may be the top wide receiver rookie selected by the team, but the rookie receiver making the most noise is fourth-round pick Javon Baker.

Projected as a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Baker comes to Foxborough with a lot of talent and much more confidence and why shouldn’t he?  During his last season at UCF, the 6-foot-1, 202-pound wide receiver was magnificent in leading the team with 52 receptions for 1,139 yards and 7 touchdowns.  His 21.9 yards per catch is a stat that will really jump out at Patriots fans, especially if that translates on the field.

With an ability to separate from defenders as one of his biggest strengths, Baker has an opportunity to flourish on a Patriots team starving for playmakers beyond Kendrick Bourne and 2023 sixth round pick Demario Douglas.  The combination of Polk and Baker will be interesting, especially with Drake Maye at quarterback, but is Baker bringing a little too much diva to Foxborough before he has even stepped on the field?

Well, he is talking.

“Just come to the home stadium and bring your popcorn,” Baker told reporters via video conference.  “As I like to tell y’all.  Bring your popcorn.  I make people in wheelchairs stand up.  Bring your popcorn.”

Is Patriots 2024 NFL Draft fourth-round pick Javon Baker doing too much talking?

The former UCF star wouldn’t be doing all this talking if Bill Belichick was still head coach, Patriots fans and players know that for sure.  But, at the same time it could be embraced if Baker backs up those words.  The kernels are in the popcorn maker, can you really make it pop young rookie?  Will you bring the butter and salt to the field and really make that popcorn taste good?  Can you excite the fans and bring some energy to that Patriots’ offense?

One team leader says he better do exactly that.  Addressing the talking Baker is doing, pass rush specialist Matthew Judon is embracing the personality the young rookie is bringing to Foxbrough.  During an appearance on “The Money Down Podcast,” Judon told co-host and former Patriots teammate James White that he hopes Baker continues to bring that same energy.

“You’ve got a lot of potential,” Judon said, as transcribed by Boston.com.  “We know you can talk.  We know you’re going to have us laughing.  We know you can do it in front of the media.  We’ve seen you do it in college.  We want you to transfer it.

“Don’t do that for the public and the media and then come in here with your backpack on, having your head down.  What is that, man? You just told people in a wheelchair to stand up. Come on, man. Be that, because if you can’t be comfortable at your job, it’s just going to get awkward and you’re going to stop liking the game.”

Some sound advice with a little warning thrown in there from Judon.  In other words, Baker must bring it on the field.  If he doesn’t things can go sough quick in the media and amongst fans support.  As part of a group which consists of Bourne, Douglas, Polk, K.J. Osbourne, Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor and Kayshon Boutte, Baker does have an opportunity to stand out, but he can also be the odd man out if he doesn’t produce.