Meet the Newest New England Patriot: Kawaan Baker

Kawaan Baker has become the seventh player signed by the New England Patriots to a future contract this offseason. In addition to seven players from their practice squad, the Patriots previously signed offensive lineman Michael Jordan to a future contract as well. Baker becomes New England’s seventh wide receiver under contract for 2024.

The New Orleans Saints selected Baker in the seventh round (No. 255 overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft. Baker played college football for South Alabama. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound receiver totaled 126 receptions, 1,829 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns in his college career. His teammates at South Alabama included punter Corliss Waitman, who spent time on the Patriots practice squad in 2023.

New Orleans cut Kawaan Baker at the end of his first training camp, but he was signed back to the practice squad. He appeared in two games as a rookie in 2021. He played exclusively on special teams, recording a tackle. He was signed to a future contract for the 2022 season.

The NFL suspended Baker for the first six games of the 2022 season for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy. The Saints waived him upon his reinstatement. Baker joined the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers, then the Philadelphia Eagles, before signing back with New Orleans at the end of the 2022 season. He did not appear in any NFL games that season. The Saints signed Baker to another future contract at the end of the season.

New Orleans waived Baker once again in training camp before the 2023 season. He did not sign with another NFL franchise this past season.

Kawaan Baker joins DeMario Douglas, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and T.J. Luther as wide receivers under contract with the New England Patriots for the 2024 season.