Latest NFL training camp buzz has former Alabama star disappointing in positional battle
When it comes to the NFL preseason, leading your team in statistics usually means you played more than what an established option would. That's the case for former Alabama Crimson Tide star receiver and Cincinnati Bengals rookie Jermaine Burton. The 2024 third-round pick led the team in receiving yards in the preseason but has not […]
When it comes to the NFL preseason, leading your team in statistics usually means you played more than what an established option would. That's the case for former Alabama Crimson Tide star receiver and Cincinnati Bengals rookie Jermaine Burton. The 2024 third-round pick led the team in receiving yards in the preseason but has not met hopes of becoming a starter.
Despite Cincinnati's need for a third option behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Burton played deep into the fourth quarter of each preseason outing. His eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets is a good sign of his talent, but something is awry.
The latest report out of training camp properly frames Burton's role entering the season.
Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic projected Burton to be the team's sixth receiver on the depth chart, noting the following:
Fairly cut-and-dried here. There’s a clear line drawn between all three levels. Iosivas will soak up the majority of snaps alongside Chase and Higgins in 11 personnel. Now, expect them to rotate a small supporting cast through that spot among tight end Mike Gesicki, Charlie Jones and even trusted Trenton Irwin at times, but Iosivas earned the WR3 role. As for Burton, don’t expect him to contribute anytime soon. They have tried him out at returner to see whether he can carve out a role there but gave way to Jones on Thursday. There’s just not enough trust in Burton right now to put him on the field with Burrow. He needs more time to build that in the coming months.
He added that while Burton's deep ball touchdown was great, it came too late and against people who will be cut from the NFL by Monday afternoon.
Here was my scouting report of Burton when he came out of Alabama:
Jermaine Burton stands out for his ability to excel in deep field plays, along with possessing the nuanced route-running skills required to diversify his game beyond just long-range catches.
From the moment he engages with defenders, Burton leverages his acceleration, quickly putting defensive players on the defensive. His ability to increase speed efficiently allows him to create significant separation over long distances. Additionally, Burton excels at deceiving defensive backs with strategic movements and feints, causing them to misstep or react prematurely, which he expertly exploits in setting up his deep routes.
Burton's skill set is not limited to his deep-play capability. He is a comprehensive route-runner. Despite occasionally entering his breaks at a higher posture than ideal, Burton demonstrates considerable attention to the intricacies of his movements and quick, deliberate footwork. While not the smoothest mover, his ability to rapidly change direction ensures he consistently finds openings across the field, including on more challenging routes that break towards the sidelines.
His prowess extends to his catching abilities, where he exhibits exceptional ball-tracking and catching skills. Although Burton may not dominate in highly contested situations, he possesses a remarkable talent for adjusting to passes that fall outside his immediate range and securing spectacular catches along the sidelines.
Concerns surrounding Burton primarily involve his physical strength, particularly in facing contact right at the start of plays, and his ability to generate additional yardage after catches in shorter areas.
Burton shows inconsistency in handling physical opposition at the scrimmage line, despite his exceptional ability to locate and catch the ball mid-air. At times, his physical build and strength may not suffice in tightly contested scenarios.
Furthermore, while his speed and agility serve him well in open-field scenarios, Burton's effectiveness after catching the ball is somewhat constrained by his lack of size and power to break through tackles and secure extra yardage, which might affect his usage in short-range passing scenarios.
In the professional arena, Burton is poised to shine as a dynamic secondary receiver capable of stretching the field. Though the team's offense may not revolve around him, his knack for making significant vertical plays, along with his comprehensive route-running and adeptness at receiving, positions him as an invaluable asset to any team's offensive lineup.
