Patriots

Patriots rookie Javon Baker draws George Pickens comparison from veteran WR

"Really, really, really talented. Like, raw. You see him jump up and make big plays."

Javon Baker Jonathan Wiggs /Globe Staff

By Khari Thompson

Patriots rookie receiver Javon Baker has made at least three highlight-reel catches during training camp so far, and although he has yet to play an NFL game, there’s a young emerging star that he reminds teammate KJ Osborn of.

Osborn said he sees similarities between Baker and Pittsburgh’s George Pickens, who caught 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns last season.

“I told him he reminds me of George Pickens,” Osborn said. “Bigger like that. Really, really, really talented. Like, raw. You see him jump up and make big plays.

“He’s a rookie, so learning the offense and the details of it,” Osborn added. “I’m trying to tell him the type of people he’s going to face on Sunday, especially in this division. We go against some really good corners. So it’s been exciting to see him continue to come along, continue to make plays, and I think he’ll be a good player.”

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Pickens is entering his third season with the Steelers after being drafted in the second round in 2022. He made an immediate impact during his rookie season, hauling in 52 passes for 801 yards.

Pickens (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) is a couple inches taller than Baker (6-foot-1, 202 pounds), but both are generally around the same size.

Time will tell if Baker can have a similar impact. The fourth-rounder has been getting more opportunities in recent days after beginning training camp with the third and fourth teams. He received some first-team reps while Jacoby Brissett was out there on Monday.

He made a leaping catch on a deep ball from Brissett that was arguably the best catch of the day.

Coach Jerod Mayo said before the practice that Baker is a good player who has a long way to go. He mentioned that Baker tossed the ball in the air after making a big catch on Sunday, which would have been a fumble if he did that in a game. Mayo said Baker will continue to learn with experience and that there’s a balance between teaching him those things and not wanting to stomp on his enthusiasm.

“You don’t want to kill a guy for showing some type of energy and some type of passion. I encourage those things,” Mayo said. “You make a big play, it’s not just you, it’s the rest of the team. But also, there’s a way to finish the play. That’s what we really focus on in the classroom. We can’t do this; this is what we want. I think it’s important to get that across.”