DeAndre Baker’s future with the New York Giants is in jeopardy. The league has placed the young cornerback on the Commissioner’s Exempt list.
It’s a move that many expected, and it’s now reportedly become official. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the NFL has placed New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker on the Commissioner’s Exempt list. Baker is currently facing four counts each of armed robbery and aggravated assault (both with a firearm) after an alleged incident at a May cookout in Florida.
Source: #Giants CB Deandre Baker was just put on the Commissioner’s Exempt list following several chargers including armed robbery.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 27, 2020
Baker was planning on reporting to training camp in East Rutherford. Now, he won’t count against the team’s 90-man roster with all players set to have reported to camp by Tuesday.
The young player will be away from the team but still receive pay while waiting to learn his fate in regards to the legal situation, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.
CB DeAndre Baker is being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, per sources. This will keep him away from Giants training camp but allows him to get paid while awaiting a decision from state attorney’s office in Florida on potential armed robbery + aggravated assault charges
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) July 27, 2020
Baker was recently alleged to have been involved in paying off the four victims to recent their statements, initially reported by Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Leonard then reported how Giants sources didn’t believe Baker would be with the team for much longer.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who was additionally involved in the apparent incident, has also been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list. Dunbar is facing four counts of armed robbery.
So who replaces DeAndre at one of the two starting cornerback spots now?
Well, there will be a few options, such as second-year players Julian Love and Corey Ballentine as well as third-year player Sam Beal. All have talent in their own ways, but if I were to make the decision, I’d go with the former-most individual. Love is a versatile, athletic player and it’d only make sense for the Giants to expand those qualities even more by throwing him into that spot.
He succeeded as a corner during his days with Notre Dame and portrayed flashes of great potential as Jabrill Peppers’ replacement at strong safety last year. He’s intelligent enough to pick up a role quickly and would be able to do so in the absence of Baker.
