The New England Patriots added depth and potential to their receiving corps for next season by signing Kawaan Baker to a futures contract on Tuesday.
Baker, 25, originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (No. 255 overall) of the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft out of South Alabama. The 6-1, 210-pounder began his rookie season on the practice squad. Baker was promoted to the active roster for two games as a rookie and saw special teams action in a late December game against the Miami Dolphins (a game in which he recorded a special teams tackle) and a game in January 2002 against the Carolina Panthers.
He remained in New Orleans after spending all of training camp with the club, but was released by the Saints in October after being suspended for violating the NFL’s PED policy. He then spent time on Green Bay’s practice squad before returning to New Orleans, joining the practice squad in December. Baker attended training camp with the Saints last summer, but was released before the start of the regular season.
After his contract was confirmed by the team on Tuesday night, Baker became the second wide receiver to be signed to a futures contract after T.J. Luther spent part of 2023 on New England’s practice squad. In addition to Baker and Luther, the Patriots also signed Ke’Sean Vaughn, defensive linemen Tristen Hill and William Bradley-King, linebacker Joe Giles-Harris, cornerback Azizi Hearn and offensive linemen Andrew Steuber and Michael Jordan.
