New England Patriots sign former USA wide receiver

Wide receiver Kawaan Baker had 126 receptions for 1,829 yards and 16 touchdowns at South Alabama. But in three seasons of trying to find success in the NFL, Baker never had a chance to catch a pass in a regular season game.

On Tuesday, Baker took a step toward seizing that opportunity when the New England Patriots announced he had signed him to a reserve/future contract.

When the offseason player limit expands from 53 to 90 players on March 13, the first day of the NFL’s 2023 season, NFL teams will be able to add players signed to reserve/future contracts to their rosters. Newly signed players will be eligible to participate. Participate as a team member in offseason workouts, minicamps, and OTAs.

Only players who are not on the NFL’s active roster can sign reserve/future contracts.

Baker did not play during the 2023 season.

Baker entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 draft. He played in 27 games with two on special teams while spending his rookie season on the practice squad.

On August 2, 2022, the NFL suspended Baker for six games for violating the league’s policy and program regarding performance-enhancing substances. New Orleans waived Baker upon his return on Oct. 17, 2022.

Two days later, Baker joined the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad for a three-week stay. He spent the first week of December on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad and returned to the Saints’ practice squad for the final two weeks of the 2022 season.

After signing a reserve/future contract with New Orleans last offseason, Baker will work with the Saints to prepare for the 2023 season and will be released on August 29, but New Orleans will cut the roster from preseason to regular season. wide receiver was eliminated.

Twenty-eight Alabama high school and college players have signed reserve/future contracts since the end of the 2023 NFL regular season. Other players include:

・Offensive lineman Chandler Brewer (Florence), Jacksonville Jaguars

・Running back Spencer Brown (Mortimer Jordan, UAB), Carolina Panthers

・Safety Shaheim Carter (Alabama), Tennessee Titans

・Defensive end DJ Coleman (Jacksonville State University), Jacksonville Jaguars

Guard Tikim Doss (Aliceville), Baltimore Ravens

・Wide receiver Grant DuBose (Park Crossing, Miles), Green Bay Packers

-Offensive lineman DJ Fluker (Foley, Alabama), Las Vegas Raiders

・Tight end Miller Foristle (Alabama), Los Angeles Rams

・Cornerback Alan George (Andalusia), Cincinnati Bengals

・Cornerback Zion Gilbert (Jeff Davis), Green Bay Packers

Cornerback Taye Hayes (Decatur), New York Jets

・Cornerback Keenan Isaac (midfield, Alabama State), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

・Wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover, Auburn), Cincinnati Bengals

・Wide receiver Cephas Johnson III (Davidson, South Alabama), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

・Outside linebacker Terrell Lewis (Alabama), Philadelphia Eagles

Guard Tashaun Manning (Auburn), Baltimore Ravens

Cornerback Christian Mathews (Sanford), Baltimore Ravens

・Tight end Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy), Carolina Panthers

・Wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (Auburn), Miami Dolphins

・Tight end John Samuel Schenker (Auburn), Las Vegas Raiders

・Offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons (Selma), Tennessee Titans

・Wide receiver Cam Sims (Alabama), Carolina Panthers

・Outside linebacker Jordan Smith (UAB), Kansas City Chiefs

・Guard Logan Stenberg (James Clemens), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

・Offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB), Green Bay Packers

・Wide receiver Austin Watkins (UAB), Philadelphia Eagles

・Center Daryl Williams (Bessemer City), Jacksonville Jaguars

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Mark Inabinet is a sports reporter with Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.