Javon Baker Knows Drake Maye Highlight Was Play He Should’ve Made

FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Javon Baker has made a handful of highlight-reel grabs throughout training camp. But he’s wishing he added another to his tape under the bright lights.

“It was just something I should have made — a play I should have made,” Baker told NESN.com after the Patriots fell 14-13 to the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night.

When the Patriots faced a third-and-10 on their first offensive drive of the second half, Baker beat Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo off the line of scrimmage. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye lofted a perfectly-placed ball some 50-something-yards downfield, but Baker couldn’t bring it in. Baker said the force of the ground caused the ball to pop free.

The first-year wideout called it a “perfect ball” from Maye, who impressed in his second preseason game. Given the fact Maye hasn’t thrown many downfield passes in training camp — he primarily has worked on short and intermediate throws — it’s understandable why Patriots fans might have been a bit disappointed with Baker’s drop.

“I just need to turn my body,” Baker said. “That’s it.”

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Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo attributed the play to a combination of concentration and “figuring out what he has to do.”

“He has good hands,” Mayo said of Baker. “He had good hands in college. He has good hands now. He just has to show that in the game.”

Baker said this week he feels his connection with Maye is leaps and bounds from where it was when the pair first got together. Plays like the one Thursday night confirm they still have a bit further to go, but Baker isn’t frustrated and remains confident.

“It’s going to come,” Baker said. “Just stacking every day, that’s really it. Other than that, it’ll be good.”

Maye and Baker will return to the practice field next week ahead of New England’s preseason finale against the Washington Commanders next Sunday.