Tag: Terrell Burgess

Rams’ rookie safeties among early standouts in camp

Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller have shined in training camp thus far.

Taylor Rapp and John Johnson will undoubtedly be the starting safeties when the Cowboys take the field against the Cowboys on Sept. 13 – and will remain the starters all season, barring injury. But that doesn’t mean the backup safeties won’t also contribute in 2020, specifically the two incoming rookies.

Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller were drafted outside the top 100, but they’ve impressed quite a few people in Thousand Oaks during the early portion of training camp. Fuller has picked off a handful of passes in practice, Burgess has showcased his versatility, and both players are making a name for themselves with the Rams.

Goff: “They’ve both done a good job. They’ve both done a really good job. I think both of them have interceptions at this point and picking up good. Picking up really good. Have a lot of speed, really smart and I think in that defense they’re going to really thrive,” Jared Goff said of the tandem this week.

More important than Goff’s thoughts on Burgess and Fuller are Sean McVay’s – and fortunately for the young safeties, the head coach has been thrilled with their progress thus far. He was asked this week about the Rams’ rookies, and he specifically recognized the play of the safeties.

“You know, I’ve been really impressed with all these guys, but those two young safeties, when you look at Burgess and Fuller have really been standouts the last couple of days,” he said, before adding the following about the whole draft class. “I think when you look at those guys that we’re really counting on to contribute from that draft class, we’ve been very pleased. They got a long way to go but they’re certainly doing things the right way and I think that’s a credit to them and also the leadership from their coaches.”

Fuller is more of a true free safety than Burgess is, playing the post and covering the deep middle of the field. He can cover sideline-to-sideline with his range, which is a key attribute of a free safety in today’s NFL.

Burgess, on the other hand, is a chess piece in the secondary. He can play deep, around the line of scrimmage, in the slot and even outside at corner. McVay loves his versatility and acknowledged that he can play the nickel role left by Nickell Robey-Coleman.

“He’s done a really good job. Smart player, great athleticism for a safety. He has some flexibility to be able to play at the nickel position at the star for us,” McVay said. “Really, very conscientious, made some big plays. When he gets his hands on the ball, he’s catching it. That’s one of the things I’ve been really impressed with. Our DB group as a whole, if they’ve gotten their hands on the ball, they’ve pretty much caught it. They’ve caused a lot of turnovers in a short period of time, which is great for our defense and not good for the offense. But, I’ve been very pleased with Terrell and really our backend as a whole.”

Burgess hasn’t been running with the first-team defense full-time in practice, but he has gotten more opportunities than he otherwise would have due to Taylor Rapp’s knee injury. That’s given him the chance to play with Aaron Donald, who has also recognized Burgess’ ability on the practice field.

“He’s been playing good. I think all the young guys in the backend have been making big plays,” Donald said. “They’re learning a lot from the older guys and they’re showing up. That’s what it’s about. You can hear about this guy, but when they’re actually putting it on film and then you see them making big plays, they’re going to get known from that.”

The roles for Burgess and Fuller will be somewhat limited in 2020, but they could grow next year if Johnson leaves in free agency. But even still, they’ll get on the field in sub-packages and when the starters need a breathe, especially if they keep making plays in practice.

Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller already impressing in the secondary

John Johnson has come away impressed with both of the Rams’ rookie defensive backs.

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One area of the Rams roster that got much younger this offseason was the secondary. Eric Weddle retired, Nickell Robey-Coleman had his option declined and Marqui Christian left in free agency.

Although the Rams didn’t add any defensive backs in free agency, they did select two in the draft: Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller. They join a secondary that will likely have a first-time starter at the nickel spot, as well as a younger tandem at safety with John Johnson and Taylor Rapp.

Burgess and Fuller are in a tough spot after their first NFL offseason was mostly virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they’ve already made a strong impression on Johnson in the first two weeks of practice.

“They came in ready to go,” Johnson told reporters Thursday. “They must have come from good college programs or high school, whatever it is, but they came in ready to go. Great athletes, you can move them around, so I’m excited for their future.”

Burgess comes in as a third-round pick out of Utah, providing excellent position versatility and instincts in the defensive backfield. He only has one year of starting experience under his belt, but he played all over the field last season for the Utes, lining up everywhere from outside corner to linebacker.

Fuller was selected in the sixth round after starting three years for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He’s more of a true free safety, roaming the middle of the field in the deep third. He had five interceptions and 10 passes defensed in the last three seasons, showing good ball skills.

Johnson shared some insight on both rookies and what makes them good defenders.

“They’re both good guys. They’re smart, hard-working,” he said. “I will say, things that jumped out to me – Jordan is long. He can run. He looks like he could cover sideline-to-sideline. He can come out the post, so I’m excited to see what he could do. And Burgess, he’s versatile, he’s quick, he’s fast and I wasn’t expecting that either. I didn’t study them, obviously, but both of them, I’m very impressed with.”

Burgess will have a better chance to contribute as a rookie than Fuller will, just because of his versatility and draft pedigree. Sean McVay and Brandon Staley have already brought his name up as a candidate to play the nickel spot, which has been vacated by Robey-Coleman.

He has some competition in David Long, Darious Williams and Dont’e Deayon, but Burgess’ tape at Utah is impressive. He just needs to continue that level of play early on in the NFL.

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Offseason NFC West Roundup: Catching up on the Los Angeles Rams

In part two of this three-part series, we review an opponent that will compete with the Seahawks for the 2020 NFC West title – the LA Rams.

As the Seattle Seahawks look to make another playoff run in the 2020 season, they face stiff competition in what could be the NFL’s toughest division next year. In the second entry of this three-part series, we review the team that finished third in the NFC West in 2019 – the Los Angeles Rams.

Los Angeles Rams

2019 record: 9-7, 3-3 NFC West

Against Seattle: 1-1

Key additions: LB Leonard Floyd, DT A’Shawn Robinson

Key losses: WR Brandin Cooks, EDGE Dante Fowler, RB Todd Gurley, LB Cory Littleton, EDGE Clay Matthews, S Eric Weddle, K Greg Zuerlein

After winning the NFC in 2018, the Rams surprised many in the 2019 season by missing the playoffs entirely (albeit with a winning record). This season, coach Sean McVay and his team look to return to their former glory in their brand-new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA., but will have to overcome the hurdle of fielding one of the thinnest rosters in the league after the departure of several key players in free agency.

The 2020 NFL Draft class could prove key to the Rams’ success this year. Second-round pick Cam Akers will immediately compete with Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown to replace the void left by Todd Gurley at the RB1 position. A quick and explosive back who accumulated 3,361 yards from scrimmage and 34 touchdowns in three seasons at Florida State, Akers has plenty of experience producing big numbers behind a subpar offensive line. This bodes well for the Rams, who had the No. 26-ranked rushing attack in the league in 2019.

Their other second-round pick, wide receiver Van Jefferson, is a “vicious” route-runner who will be a strong contender to take over Brandon Cooks’ former starting spot alongside Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods.

Other intriguing names from this year’s class include edge-rusher Terrell Lewis (a first-round talent and physical specimen at 6-foot-5, 262 pounds with a worrying history of injuries) and safety Terrell Burgess, who should bolster the Rams’ young safety corps with his backfield presence to balance out the strong-safety skillsets of John Johnson III and Taylor Rapp.

After receiving a substantial extension (four years, $134 million) in September of 2019 that set an NFL record for guaranteed money, quarterback Jared Goff has plenty to prove in 2020 after a disappointing post-Super Bowl campaign in which he passed for just 22 touchdowns while also throwing 16 interceptions.

He is not fully to blame, Gurley’s regression essentially took away the Rams’ rushing threat and put more pressure on the passing attack, while several key injuries ravaged the offensive line, which frequently sent Goff running for his life. In December, he showed signs of returning to 2018 form, throwing 11 TDs and four picks with a 66.2 completion percentage.

New offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell certainly has faith in Goff, announcing an intention to give the fifth-year quarterback “some ownership” of the offense. However, the jury is out on how much of an impact O’Connell will have on gamedays, as McVay has previously stated that he is unlikely to ever give up playcalling. Still, the hire of O’Connell, who worked with McVay under former coach Jay Gruden in Washington, indicates that McVay might be ready to relinquish some control of the offense.

(Part one: Arizona Cardinals)

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Terrell Burgess trying to learn every DB position, as well as ‘money’ spot

Terrell Burgess is trying to learn every position he can to maximize his value.

Learning one position is tough enough for an NFL rookie, but as we’ve seen countless times in the past, versatility only increases a player’s value. In Terrell Burgess’ case, it helped him get drafted in the third round by the Los Angeles Rams, despite only having one year of starting experience in college.

Burgess hasn’t been able to get on the field with his teammates yet as the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented teams from holding OTAs or minicamp, but he’s still preparing for his rookie year off the field. Burgess is trying to learn as many positions as he can on defense, beginning with safety and working his way down.

He’ll even dive into the “money” position, which is essentially a dime linebacker role for a defensive back.

“Honestly, I don’t know for sure. I plan to be able to contribute any way I can,” he said. “I’m trying to learn all of the defensive back positions. And once I get that down, then I’ll probably start trying to learn the ‘money’ position, as well, just in case they need to throw me in there in a different package. I’m going to try to learn everything, but learn the safety position then work down – from the top down.”

Burgess played all over the defense at Utah last season, from safety to nickel back to boundary corner and linebacker. While the Rams may not move him around that much in his rookie year, his versatility should get him on the field relatively often out of the gates.

Sean McVay and Brandon Staley have both mentioned Burgess’ ability to play safety and nickel corner, which gives the defense a lot of options. He can be the third safety behind John Johnson and Taylor Rapp, or compete with Darious Williams and David Long at the No. 3 cornerback spot.

Either way, Burgess is in line for a decent role early on as a rookie.

Terrell Burgess: ‘I love to play in the box’ but will line up anywhere

The Rams rookie will play anywhere he’s asked, but he does prefer the box.

One of the primary reasons the Rams selected Terrell Burgess in the third round of the draft this year was his versatility on defense. Last season at Utah, he played free safety, strong safety, nickel corner, linebacker and even boundary cornerback, showing incredible position flexibility.

He’s technically listed as a defensive back, but with DC Brandon Staley emphasizing the importance of versatility in the secondary, he could play anywhere. The lack of on-field work has limited his exposure to the coaching staff and made it difficult to project his position, but that’ll become clearer in training camp and the preseason.

Burgess doesn’t really have a preference where he plays, though he admitted to J.B. Long on the Rams Revealed podcast that he enjoys lining up in the box.

“I’d say I’m a football player. I wouldn’t say that I’m best at any position but I do love to play in the box. I love to play in the box and being able to read linemen but I also like just being in a position to make plays, is what I like to do, to be honest with you,” Burgess said. “I don’t care where it is. I just want to play and help contribute.”

Burgess should have plenty of opportunities to play in the box with John Johnson and Taylor Rapp both having the ability to play free safety. Burgess isn’t the biggest safety, but he’s a good tackler and his instincts are top-notch, allowing him to slip blockers and make plays near the line of scrimmage.

He’ll be a fun player to watch as a rookie and should only continue to improve as he gains experience in the NFL.

Terrell Burgess shares his daily routine as a rookie in NFL’s virtual offseason

Terrell Burgess’ routine is “repetitive,” but he knew what he was signing up for.

In any other year, Rams rookies would’ve been weeks deep into the offseason workout program, which includes rookie minicamp and OTAs. The coronavirus pandemic has thrown a wrench into things, though, postponing minicamp and all on-field work for not only rookies, but all players.

As a result, Terrell Burgess has had to find ways to stay active on his own, while also attending meetings over Zoom video conferences and studying the playbook in his free time. He joined J.B. Long on the Rams Revealed podcast this week to share his daily routine during this modified offseason.

“My workouts kind of vary, but I try to – if I don’t run before in the morning, I’ll get up [at] I don’t know what time, make breakfast and get ready for meetings at around 10:30,” he said. “And we’ll go from 10:30 till who knows when. Let’s say it goes to 1:30, 2 o’clock. And then I will go work out, I’ll go lift in the weight room for about an hour and a half. Then I’ll go to the field and run for about an hour and a half. Come back and eat and then it’s study and wake up and do it all over again.

“It’s a lot of repetitive but I mean, this is my job now so I’ve got to make sure I treat it like a professional.”

Burgess acknowledged the amount of classroom work and studying that’s still required of players after leaving college, but it’s not something he’s surprised by. He knew what he was signing up for when he got to the NFL.

“It’s a lot but that’s what we train for. You want to get to this point in your life to where you can do it,” he said.

Burgess wasn’t a coveted prospect in the draft, necessarily, with each team passing on him at least once as he was selected in Round 3 at No. 104 overall. His lack of experience in college as just a one-year starter hurt his stock, but Burgess is seemingly just scratching the surface of how good he can be.

He couldn’t pinpoint the moment when he realized he could play in the NFL, but he’s always been confident in his own abilities to make it to this point.

“I’ve always believed in myself. I’ve always had confidence – I don’t want to say cocky – but I definitely had confidence and believed in myself,” he told Long. “I don’t know if there was an exact moment, but I think toward the end of the season, I could feel that my play was getting a little bit better and I knew that I had somewhat of a chance. I didn’t know what would happen until my phone started ringing and it said Thousand Oaks, California. But outside of that, I knew that I believed I could play at this level, I just wanted to get an opportunity.”

Burgess will be a backup initially, most likely, but he could contribute as the third safety behind Taylor Rapp and John Johnson, and also work his way onto the field as a nickel corner in place of Nickell Robey-Coleman. Even if he doesn’t make a profound impact as a rookie, it’s hard not to be excited about Burgess’ potential.

Could Terrell Burgess be the Rams’ new version of Lamarcus Joyner?

Terrell Burgess might be a bigger and faster version of Lamarcus Joyner for the Rams.

Versatile defensive backs provide incredible value in today’s NFL. It’s why so many teams covet prospects in the draft who can play multiple positions, giving defensive coordinators countless options when it comes to their scheme.

Terrell Burgess was one of the most versatile players in the 2020 draft class, lining up all across Utah’s defense in 2019. He played free safety, strong safety, nickel corner, outside corner and linebacker, contributing in a variety of ways both against the run and the pass.

The Rams are excited about his position flexibility and have already mentioned him as an option to replace Nickell Robey-Coleman at nickel corner. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said last week that he’ll probably be a safety first, but could also get looks at nickel corner.

While not a perfect comparison, Burgess might just be the Rams’ new version of Lamarcus Joyner.

Not the player Jeff Fisher struggled to find a role for from 2014-2016, but the one Wade Phillips helped turn into a great free safety in 2017, which landed Joyner the franchise tag in 2018 and a $42 million deal from the Raiders last offseason.

There are obvious differences in their physical statures – Joyner is only 5-foot-9, 184 pounds, while Burgess stands at 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds – but there are also similarities in their skillsets and athleticism.

Here’s how each player performed in their respective combine appearances.

40-yard dash 10-yard split Broad jump Vertical jump
Burgess 4.46 seconds 1.58 seconds 122 inches 33.5 inches
Joyner 4.55 seconds 1.59 seconds 123 inches 37.5 inches

Burgess didn’t run the three-cone drill or short shuttle this year, so we can’t compare those times, but he has similar quickness to Joyner on tape. Burgess is slightly faster, but out of the box, he and Joyner are close in their acceleration based on their 10-yard splits.

But where the comparisons really lie are in their versatility. Joyner played nickel corner when he first entered the NFL, which limited his playing time early on. That could wind up being Burgess’ best position, but he’s also well-suited to play a traditional free safety role as a rookie.

Burgess has plenty of range to play over the top of the defense, taking away the middle of the field while also rotating to each sideline on passes to the outside. That was one of Joyner’s strengths, often showing the ability to track the football in the air – as he did on this gift of an interception against the Cardinals in 2017.

In 2017, Joyner was also perfectly capable when closer to the line of scrimmage and aligning in the slot. On this play in the season opener against the Colts, he reads the quarterback (Scott Tolzein) perfectly, breaks on the ball and returns it for a touchdown.

He made it look easy, but this wasn’t as simple a play as it might seem.

Joyner did play in some split-safety looks where he was responsible for half the field, but more often, he was in single-high or covering the slot. Burgess played a similar variety of roles at Utah, but one of his best plays of the 2019 season came from two-high coverage.

Burgess plays the route concept perfectly by passing off one receiver and taking the one breaking deep, and he’s able to keep his footing (barely) in order to come back and pick off the pass.

He’s also a sure tackler, which is important for a defensive back, especially one who will be playing a lot of man coverage as the Rams’ DBs will in 2020. On this play, he sits back in the zone before breaking to the flat when he sees the receiver open.

Burgess wraps up the ball carrier and brings him down for a loss in what was an impressive play.

Burgess is a bigger and faster defensive back than Joyner, but he lacks experience after being a starter for just one season at Utah. Had he played more in college, he could’ve snuck into the second round with additional tape like the one he put together in 2019.

The Rams can deploy him in a number of roles and see where he fits best, but his best position might be one that doesn’t pigeonhole him to a certain spot. Staley should let him play deep safety and nickel corner like Joyner did, maximizing his potential and skillset early on.

Rams’ heavy usage of dime defense will put spotlight on young DBs

Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller and David Long Jr. will all be called upon as rookies next year.

Whether they’re ready or not, the Los Angeles Rams’ young defensive backs will be in the spotlight a lot next season. After Eric Weddle’s retirement and the team’s decision to let Nickell Robey-Coleman become a free agent, Los Angeles is banking on first- and second-year players to step up in those voids.

Taylor Rapp is already a proven starter after replacing John Johnson last season, but Terrell Burgess, David Long Jr. and Jordan Fuller will all likely be called upon at some point to contribute.

That’s especially likely if the Rams continue using dime personnel packages as much as they did in 2019. According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams used their dime defense more than every team in the NFL but one (the Packers) last year.

Dime packages get six defensive backs on the field at once and are typically used in obvious passing situations. But for the Rams, they used dime personnel almost out of need last year. With only one truly reliable linebacker in Cory Littleton, they were forced to use safeties such as Rapp and Marqui Christian as hybrid linebackers – thus the frequent usage of dime defense.

In 2020, Rapp will be a starter next to Johnson, which means Burgess or Fuller could serve as the all-important third safety. In Burgess’ case, he could also be asked to help replace Robey-Coleman in the slot as the nickel corner.

He’ll have to compete with Long for that position, though both could find themselves on the field together in dime packages. Here’s one example of how the Rams secondary could look in dime situations.

CB1: Jalen Ramsey

CB2: Troy Hill

Nickel CB: David Long Jr.

FS: John Johnson

SS: Taylor Rapp

Safety: Terrell Burgess

You could also have scenarios where Burgess is the nickel corner and Fuller comes on the field as the third safety, playing a true free safety role in the middle of the field. That would allow Johnson to match up with tight ends and Rapp to be a strong safety near the line of scrimmage.

There’s still a lot to be determined with this secondary, but one thing’s for sure: The Rams have options, most of which rely on their young defensive backs. The one wild card in this all is the arrival of Brandon Staley, who’s a first-time defensive coordinator.

We know Wade Phillips liked to use dime packages a lot last season, but will Staley feel the same way? In short, probably. The Rams don’t have the linebacker depth or talent to consistently run base 3-4 packages, and even in nickel situations, they would have two linebackers on the field.

They’re better off relying on their talented secondary to take away the pass with these dime and “big nickel” packages.

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Watch: Les Snead and Rams scouts evaluate Terrell Burgess

The Rams are excited about having Terrell Burgess on the team.

While there are some questioning the Rams’ decision to draft Cam Akers and Van Jefferson in the second round, no one is criticizing them for selecting Terrell Burgess in the third round at No. 104 overall. Many are actually praising the Rams for selecting the versatile defensive back at that point in the draft, calling him a steal in Round 3.

Burgess only has one year of starting experience, but his versatility is his best asset and something that will get him on the field right away as a rookie. Sean McVay has even said the ideal scenario is for Burgess to be the starting nickel corner.

Les Snead was thrilled to come away with the Utah safety at No. 104, praising his position flexibility after the draft.

“Really, really impressed with his versatility. Our special teams coach liked him, so he’s going to make an impact on game day for the Rams in many different ways,” he said.

Director of draft management JW Jordan also praised Burgess for his versatility, saying he can play just about any position in the secondary.

“He’s a guy that can basically play anywhere on the backend that you need him to,” Jordan said.

Burgess will still have to beat out players such as David Long and Darious Williams for a starting job, but he certainly has the talent to be a Day 1 starter for the Rams.

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2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing the NFL betting odds to win the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, with NFL betting odds, picks, predictions and best bets.

With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to the 2020 NFL season for futures bets. Below, we’ll take a look at the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds and figuring out the best bets, ones you should avoid and long-shot picks. So, without further ado, let’s get into the odds, courtesy of BetMGM sportsbook.

2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year odds

Below are the 10 favorites. Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday, May 13 at 12:01 a.m. ET.

  • Chase Young, DE, Washington Redskins +220
  • Isaiah Simmons, LB, Arizona Cardinals +550
  • Patrick Queen, LB, Baltimore Ravens +1100
  • Kenneth Murray, LB, Los Angeles Chargers +1100
  • Jeff Okudah, CB, Detroit Lions +1400
  • K’Lavon Chaisson, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars +2000
  • Jordyn Brooks, LB, Seattle Seahawks +2500
  • Derrick Brown, CL, Carolina Panthers +2500
  • Willie Gay Jr., LB, Kansas City Chiefs +2500
  • Javon Kinlaw, DL, San Francisco 49ers + 2500

2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year best bets

Favorite: Chase Young +220

Not surprisingly, Young, the No. 2 overall pick, has the best odds to win the award. In his last two seasons at Ohio State, Young tallied 35.5 tackles for a loss and 27 sacks despite being constantly double-teamed.

Young went to a fantastic situation in the NFL as he will play with an already established defensive line. He will certainly get his fair share of attention, but don’t be surprised if he posts similar numbers to what former Buckeyes teammate DE Nick Bosa did for the 49ers as a rookie.

If Young can accumulate double-digit sacks and be a force against the run game, he should be a shoo-in to win the award. At +220, Young isn’t a bad bet given just how incredibly talented he is. It is worth noting that two other Ohio State DE products (Bosa and his brother Joey Bosa) have won the award since 2016.

Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM, or play in their online casino. Bet now!

Best bet: Patrick Queen +1100

One of the better bets on the board is Queen. Much like Young, Queen is entering a perfect situation for his skill set. In front of him is one of the best defensive lines in football, which should protect him from seeing many blockers. With Queen’s outstanding sideline-to-sideline speed and instincts, he should be able to rack up the tackles on an already good defense.

If Queen can become the Ravens’ tackle leader and help them win the AFC North, he will certainly get votes for the award. Look for Queen to have a Darius Leonard-like impact for the Ravens in Year 1 – Leonard, an Indianapolis Colts linebacker, won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018.

Bet to avoid: Jeff Okudah +1400

Despite being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, betting on Okudah to win this award seems like the wrong play. In general, cornerbacks don’t win this award very often as it typically takes them some time to get used to the speed and physicality of the NFL.

Since 2000, only two cornerbacks (Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints and Marcus Peters of the Chiefs) have won the award. During their rookie campaigns, Lattimore had five interceptions and Peters picked off eight as their respective teams each went 11-5. The Lions aren’t in the same class as the Saints and Chiefs, and it seems likely that Detroit will have a top-10 draft pick once again next season.

It also doesn’t help that there isn’t much help for Okudah on the rest of the Lions defense. It seems likely that teams will avoid targeting the rookie in favor of lesser defensive backs. While that means Okudah is doing his job, it won’t result in many turnovers for the rookie defender. Look for Okudah to quickly establish himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but don’t bet on him to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Darkhorse: Los Angeles Rams DB Terrell Burgess +6000

If you are looking for a long-shot bet, look no further than Burgess, who was taken in the third round of the NFL Draft. With Nickell Robey-Coleman leaving in free agency, the Rams had an opening at the slot cornerback position, which will likely be filled by Burgess.

In college, Burgess was a playmaking machine, racking up 81 tackles in 14 games for Utah. He has the flexibility to play all over the field and the coverage ability to match up with slot receivers. He should be on the field a ton as a rookie and with CB Jalen Ramsey holding down opponents’ No. 1 receiver, Burgess could see a ton of action. At 60-1 (+6000), Burgess is a fun darkhorse bet given how many snaps he is likely to play for the Rams.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year prop or any other NFL futures bets? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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