Treylon Burks came into the NFL with great expectations, so much so that he was described this way heading into the draft.
The Arkansas receiver was considered “A.J. Brown (with more wiggle).”
That’s quite a compliment. Brown’s now a three-time Pro Bowler with more than 1,000 receiving yards in six of his seven seasons, a physical and dominant force in the pattern.
“Big, smooth and natural, Burks possesses the versatility to operate from wherever you want and get to wherever you need no matter the competition.”
That was the first sentence in his NFL.com draft profile. While he didn’t have a great combine showing, the sky seemed to be the limit.
That’s why the Tennessee Titans selected him with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Ironically, it came as part of a trade that sent Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Things haven’t gone as planned since then. Burks has dealt with injuries throughout his professional career and has never exceeded his rookie totals of 444 yards and one touchdown.
That’s, well, not A.J. Brown-like.
Burks has dealt with toe, knee and collarbone injuries that have hampered his availability and development, which prompted the Titans to waive him off injured resereve.
That’s when the Commanders entered the frame. He signed with Washington’s practice squad during last season. He contributed a bit towards the end of the year, including this gem.
The contributions were enough for the Commanders to re-sign him to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million.
All that’s a long-winded way of asking this question: How does Burks fit into the Commanders receiver corps? There’s so much temptation in that NFL draft profile.
Who doesn’t want A.J. Brown with more wiggle? That certainly sounds like the presence Washington needs opposite Terry McLaurin. Can that potential be unlocked? Or is he more likely to be a depth piece within a position group that also includes Luke McCaffrey and third-round pick Antonio Williams.
There has been talk about signing veteran Stefon Diggs or adding Brandon Aiyuk when/if he’s released by San Francisco, but that hasn’t happened yet. Burks remains an intriguing talent who has flashed potential.
His injury history suggests it’s tough to count on him, but he’s an intriguing talent who feels comfortable in Washington. He’s someone to keep an eye on during OTA practices, which begin on Wednesday at the Commanders training complex.
This offseason program and training complex offers Burks a real opportunity to reset his career in a new system, with an opportunity to compete for a significant role. This is a prove-it point in Burks’ career.
He may not be able to stave off a receiver addition this offseason no matter what he does, but he can show worthy of inclusion in the Commanders offensive game plan. Staying healthy is key as he competes for targets from Jayden Daniels.
How will Burks fit into the Commanders 2026 campaign? Let us know in the comments below.
