Once projected as a first-round pick, this Ohio State star hits rock bottom in latest 2025 NFL Mock Drafts
It's hard to think of a 2025 prospect who hurt his stock as much as Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke did with his play this season. Burke returned to Ohio State for his senior season, calling it a "Natty or bust" campaign, but produced a nightmarish year for the bulk of it. Instead of being […]
It's hard to think of a 2025 prospect who hurt his stock as much as Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke did with his play this season. Burke returned to Ohio State for his senior season, calling it a "Natty or bust" campaign, but produced a nightmarish year for the bulk of it.
Instead of being a late first-round prospect, he's now hoping to land as a top-100 selection. As more data rolls in each week from NFL teams and mock draft experts, his average draft spot is the 112th pick, per NFL Mock Draft Database.
He was in the low 60s at the time of the National Championship Game.
It's hard to remember a drop like this for a player who had multiple starting years under his belt and legit NFL athleticism.
Despite being experienced and competent in zone and man, Burke's aggressiveness and ball awareness were worse than ever in 2024. Whether it's been self-imposed pressure to be a star or live up to his expectations, offenses had far too much success going his way until the back stretch of the season.
Though he allowed 34-of-47 targets to be complete for 413 yards and two touchdowns, only eight of those receptions came in his last six games. Six occurred against Michigan and Notre Dame.
His bad game against Oregon ended up defining his season in an unfair way. While his playmaking was gone, producing only two interceptions and two pass breakups, Burke also surrendered only two penalties. His missed tackle rate plummeted from 22.9% in 2023 to 7.5% in 2024.
PFF found his run defense, tackling, and pass rush grades to be the best of his career last season. His coverage grade rebounded to above 2022 levels, and his four-year snapshot of play is drastically more impressive as a whole.
There's always a fine line in NFL Draft projections between punishing a player too much for small sample sizes and using those examples as what's indicative of what's to come. Burke has a high floor as a rotational option and should compete to play on Day 1.
He might not be viewed as more than a No. 2 corner in the right system anymore, but falling into the fourth round is awfully low for that type of prospect.
Burke now seems like he'll end up being a steal in the 2025 NFL Draft if his stock never recovers.
Ohio State Buckeyes make major push for elite five-star recruit, now stand at the top over SEC programs in his recruitment
The Buckeyes stand in a great spot.
