DeAndre Baker is back in the NFL. The Chiefs are set to sign the former first-round cornerback to their practice squad, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Robbery Charges Against DeAndre Baker Dropped]
Earlier this week, the Broward County State Attorney’s Office dropped the armed robbery charges against Baker. He was away from football for much of 2020 and gearing up for a court battle, but he’s now in the clear, legally speaking. The NFL could still discipline Baker after an investigation from the league office. For now, he’s free to join the Chiefs’ reserve squad.
Garafolo hears that it won’t be long before Baker makes his way to the active roster, provided that everything checks out. That’s no surprise, considering Baker’s first-round pedigree. A standout at Georgia, Baker was widely regarded as the top cornerback in the class. The 5-foot-11 athlete turned in a standout 2018 season with the Bulldogs, compiling 40 tackles, two sacks, nine passes defended, and two picks.
Baker was expected to be a key part of the Giants’ secondary right off the bat. Instead, he clashed with coaches and wound up benched midway through his first pro season. Still, the talent is there, and there’s little risk for the Chiefs as they take a flyer on him.
As much as I like the Raiders to be in on all these failed top picks, this is not one of them.
The charges were dropped. The Raiders only take the players where they have been charged and convicted.
Maybe he dropped a dime on someone. You need guys they served their time, but before they get their second conviction. A second conviction for a multi-millionaire indicates they aren’t smart enough to play football.
It’s trickier than people think.
It’s hard to call someone a ‘failed top pick’ when he has only one season under his belt and it was with Pat Schurmer, who was awful as a head coach.
If you get cut, as a top pick, you failed. Not a lot of ways around that. I’m not saying he can’t return, but he has failed so far.
Even though Schumer was the head coach. He’s offensive minded, Baker would have been coached by the defensive coordinator at the time.
Hopefully this time he won’t fall asleep in meetings, actually learn the playbook and not fight with the coaches. Maybe all he needed was a wake up call and to be able to appreciate the opportunity he’s been given in life.