Tag: Treylon Burks

Titans coaches rave about Treylon Burks: ‘He has exceeded expectations’

Multiple Titans coaches heaped praise on wide receiver Treylon Burks on Wednesday.

Nobody on the Tennessee Titans needs a rebound season more than wide receiver Treylon Burks, who has had a lackluster first two campaigns in the NFL, to say the least.

Now, Burks is looking at a season in which he won’t be a full-time starter after the additions the Titans made at the position in 2024, and head coach Brian Callahan has said he needs to contribute on special teams as a result.

Knowing that, the Titans have been giving Burks a look as both a gunner and kick returner this offseason.

On Wednesday, special teams coordinator Colt Anderson praised the Arkansas product for the work he’s putting in and the tools he has.

“Let me just tell you something: that kid is an ultimate pro,” Anderson said of Burks, according to Paul Kuharsky. “The way he’s handled everything from Day 1, he wants to be on the field. Any way we can get him on the field, we’re going to find a way to get him on the field. He’s explosive, he can run, he’s physical. He’s got all the attributes to be a good football player.

“And, at the end of the day, we’re going to have — offense, defense, special teams — the best 11 out there that are going to help us win.”

Anderson wasn’t the only one who praised Burks. Offensive coordinator Nick Holz stated that Burks has “exceeded expectations.”

“He has exceeded expectations so far,” Holz said, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “He has been unbelievable. His work ethic every day has been awesome. His vertical speed, his size, his strength has shown up, non-stop, every day. He’s made some plays down the field.

“He had one yesterday down the sideline we’d like to see him reel in, so that would be one of those things of, ‘hey, when the big plays are there, you’ve got to make them.’

“But he’s done excellent for us and he’s really been versatile, being able to play inside and outside. So, he’s actually been rotating in at all three spots. A lot of times he’s been running with the ones because guys aren’t there and it’s the offseason so it’s voluntary, so he’s been doing a really nice job of kind of plug-and-play from that standpoint.”

While this is all well and good, nobody is going to sign up for a Burks breakout season based on coach comments alone. We’ll have to see all of this translate to impact play on the field, which could be difficult because of his role as the No. 4 receiver in the offense.

Titans’ Brian Callahan: Treylon Burks must contribute on special teams

Titans head coach Brian Callahan says Treylon Burks must contribute on special teams in 2024 because he won’t be a full-time starter.

After the Tennessee Titans added Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley this offseason, it was figured that Treylon Burks would be pushed out of a starting role — and that’s something head coach Brian Callahan confirmed on Tuesday.

Callahan addressed the media during the first practice of mandatory minicamp and revealed that Burks will have to contribute on special teams, seeing as how he won’t be a full-time player.

He also revealed that the team has been giving Burks a look as a gunner, and kick returns are a possibility for him, also.

“Absolutely (Burks) is going to have to contribute (on special teams),” Callahan said, per Jim Wyatt. “You only get so many hats on gameday, and if he’s one of those guys on gameday, we’re going to have to find a place for him… Guys like him should be great special teams players on top of it, just because of his size and speed.

“The gunner thing is something I think he’s very capable of doing. There might be some more roles for him in the other phases as well, but anytime you’re not a full-time starter, you’re going to have to contribute somewhere on gameday. And I think Trey’s attitude and approach to special teams has been fantastic.”

The fact that Burks won’t be a full-time starters and will have to play a role on special teams as a result comes as zero surprise.

But this is just another stark reminder of how poorly things have gone for him over the first two seasons. Barring injury, Burks is going to have a tough time getting his career on track in 2024.

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Titans’ Calvin Ridley on Treylon Burks ‘This dude is a freak’

Titans WR Calvin Ridley is a big fan of Treylon Burks and compared him to some top wide receivers.

When Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks was coming out of college, he was often compared to A.J. Brown and other big, physical receivers who have been in the league over the years.

Despite not being able to find his footing over his first two years in the NFL, he’s still drawing that comparison, at least from one of his teammates.

Following the Titans’ second open practice of organized team activities on Wednesday, fellow wide receiver Calvin Ridley compared Burks to Brown, Julio Jones and Terrell Owens.

“This dude is a freak. Like, seriously, bro,” Ridley said. “He’s gonna be a stud… He’s like Julio, AJ Brown, he’s like (Terrell Owens). Dude that big, that fast, man? He’s a stud, man. You don’t have to worry about him. He’s just got to learn, slow the game down. He’s going to be alright.”

Burks also spoke to reporters after practice and revealed that his confidence is “out of the roof” going into Year 3, echoing comments he made ahead of last season.

“Out of the roof, I’m real confident,” Burks said. “I’m having fun and healthy and I can’t be more blessed.”

While Burks possesses the traits of all of those guys Ridley mentioned, we simply haven’t seen it at this level yet. Hopefully that changes in 2024.

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What is the Titans’ biggest strength going into 2024 season?

Bleacher Report identifies the Titans’ biggest strength going into 2024, but did they choose the right one?

The Tennessee Titans have much to prove in 2024. The team is coming off a dismal 2023 season in which head coach Mike Vrabel was fired after going 6-11.

With a new head coach in town, the team did a fine job of adding talent to the roster. Wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd were added in free agency. Running back Tony Pollard was added to offset the loss of Derrick Henry. Corners L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie were also added to the secondary in free agency. Lloyd Cushenberry and Saahdiq Charles will help improve the offensive line.

Despite some high-profile additions, oddsmakers and many media members are not believers in the Titans, as evidenced by the team having one of the lowest projected win totals in the league (6.5).

Recently, Bleacher Report identified the biggest strength of each NFL team. For the Titans, the biggest strength was listed as the pass-catcher group. Ridley was listed as the most impactful addition while Treylon Burks was listed as a player to watch this summer.

Regarding the pass-catchers, the BR NFL Scouting Department said the following:

A year ago, the Titans had one of the worst receiver groups in the league. In the wake of the A.J. Brown trade, they didn’t have a No. 1 receiver or even a collection of secondary options that could cause problems for defenses.

Fast-forward to the present and they have put together an ensemble that should give Will Levis every chance to prove he can be the franchise quarterback.

Last season, DeAndre Hopkins ended with 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. No other WR on the roster had even 30 catches or 450 yards. Luckily, that shouldn’t be the case going forward.

Here’s more from BR:

Calvin Ridley worked just fine as the Jaguars’ No. 1 receiver last year. However, his best fit is probably as a high-end second option. That’s exactly what he’ll be with the Titans after defecting from their division rival.

Chigoziem Okonkwo might have disappointed fantasy football managers, but he was the second-leading receiver in the Titans’ run-heavy offense last season.

New head coach Brian Callahan went to a familiar face to create a good receiving trio. The Titans signed Tyler Boyd to a one-year deal. He’ll give them a consistent veteran who can man the slot.

Whether the group can blossom will depend on the younger talent underneath the top three. This feels like a make-or-break season for Treylon Burks. Hopkins has publicly hyped Burks at OTAs already this offseason. His continued performance is a storyline to watch.

The BR NFL Scouting Department made the right call here. The wide receivers room is the deepest position group on the roster. What was arguably the biggest weakness in 2023 is now arguably the biggest strength.

If the pass-catcher group wasn’t the choice, it would have to be the secondary.

Sneed and Awuzie are welcome additions to a secondary that includes Roger McCreary, Amani Hooker, and Elijah Molden. However, not even that group of players has the ceiling that this group of pass-catchers has.

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Would this Giants-Titans trade for a former first-round pick make sense?

Would this proposed New York Giants-Tennessee Titans trade for a former first-round pick make sense for Big Blue?

As the NFL calendar shifts to June in the coming days, teams may rekindle their approach to roster building as some salary cap restrictions loosen. That could lead to unexpected trades, including a New York Giants-Tennessee Titans swap recently suggested by Bleacher Report.

B/R’s Alex Ballentine proposed a deal that sends Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks to the Giants in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

A move to another team, like the New York Giants, which is still trying to figure out the receiving corps, would make sense. Going from Levis to Daniel Jones might be a downgrade, but the Giants have a lot of unknowns at wide receiver right now.

Rookie Malik Nabers figures to be their No. 1 receiver. Darius Slayton would be the No. 2 option, but he’s currently sitting out OTAs while he works on a new contract with the G-Men.

There are many young options the Giants hope will hit big this season. Adding Burks would give them another body type with potential in the room. At 6’2″, 225 pounds, the former Razorback is much bigger than the likes of Wan’Dale Robinson (5’8″, 185) and Jalin Hyatt (6’0″, 185).

Burks would still have to fight for reps and targets, but the competition would be a lot lighter in New York.

At the low cost of a sixth-round pick, this would be considered a steal for the Giants if they’re still seeking bodies at wide receiver. However, for the Titans, it would seem to be a minimal haul for a former first-round pick even when considering some of his early-career struggles.

Burks, the 18th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, has caught just 49 passes for 665 yards and one touchdown over his first two seasons. That’s a far cry from the production many expected when he came out of Arkansas.

Ballentine argues that a fresh start could suit Burks well, but acknowledges he may get that in Tennessee anyway.

There’s an argument to be made that Treylon Burks is already getting a fresh start. With Brian Callahan taking over as head coach in Tennessee, the 2022 first-round pick will play in a new offense with Will Levis as the starter from opening week.

DeAndre Hopkins even went to bat for his teammate, writing in a since-deleted X post that the media is the only entity doubting the receiver.

Maybe that’s the case. But there’s no denying that Burks is a clear fourth option on the roster. They not only signed Calvin Ridley but also added Tyler Boyd, who brings a lot of experience with Callahan to the table.

So, would this proposed trade make sense? For the Giants, absolutely. For the Titans? Probably not so much.

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Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins clarifies comment on Treylon Burks

Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins took to social media to clarify a comment he made on WR Treylon Burks after practice on Tuesday.

When speaking to the media on Tuesday after the second session of OTAs, Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins provided a quote on fellow wideout Treylon Burks that he later felt the need to clarify.

Hopkins was asked if the embattled Burks was being slept on ahead of his third season in the NFL, to which Hopkins said no, which didn’t read too great without explanation.

“How do I answer that without making a negative sound byte? Nein, that’s no in German.” Hopkins replied, per Terry McCormick of Titan Insider.

On the surface, that would seem to indicate that Hopkins believes Burks is exactly who we think he is after two lackluster campaigns, but that is not what he meant at all.

Hopkins took to social media shortly after to make sure he was crystal clear in what he meant to say.

And, after seeing this quote Hopkins had on Burks, it’s clear the veteran is not down on his teammate.

“Treylon is one of the most athletic people I’ve ever played with, as big as he is, as fast as he is,” he said. “I’m looking forward to see what he does this year.”

There you have it, folks. Nothing to see here.

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ESPN predicts Steelers make trade for sleeper wide receiver

ESPN thinks the Steelers could trade for Treylon Burks.

The biggest roster need of the Pittsburgh Steelers at this point is wide receiver. We love the addition of Roman Wilson via the draft but our confidence in the mishmash of veterans the team signed doesn’t inspire confidence.

ESPN speculated on some moves teams could still make this offseason and for the Steelers, they predicted a trade between the Steelers and Tennessee Titans to bring in wide receiver Treylon Burks. Here’s what ESPN said about Burks.

Another player buried on a depth chart, Burks has been a victim of unrealistic expectations and bad timing. The Titans essentially drafted him as the replacement for A.J. Brown after trading the star wideout to the Eagles on draft day in 2022, setting the bar for Burks as an immediately impactful wideout. It hasn’t panned out, because of injuries to Burks and upheaval at quarterback. Five different players have thrown him passes over his first two seasons.

Burks has appeared in 22 games over his first two seasons with 15 starts. Burks has 49 career receptions for 665 receiving yards and only one touchdown. Injuries have seriously hampered Burks production but even when healthy, Burks has underperformed and not lived up to the first-round hype. If the Steelers wanted to work a deal for Burks, it would have to be at a nominal cost to the Steelers and take nothing into consideration about him being a former No. 18 overall pick.

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Should Titans trade WR Treylon Burks to Steelers?

ESPN recently suggested the Titans trade Treylon Burks to the Steelers, but should they do it?

Speculation about the Tennessee Titans trading Treylon Burks has been around all offseason long, and that discussion has only heated up since the team added wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in free agency.

Burks has been a major disappointment over two years in the NFL. Not only has he struggled with injuries, but he also simply hasn’t produced much when on the field. Making his issues more glaring is the fact that he was drafted to replace A.J. Brown after Tennessee foolishly traded him away.

With DeAndre Hopkins, Ridley and Boyd slated to be the Titans’ top-three receivers, Burks is facing a tall task in getting his career on track in 2024.

Knowing that, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Titans should trade the Arkansas product to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He doesn’t list a return for Tennessee in the deal, though.

While it’s not outlandish to think the Titans could trade the former first-round pick, it simply wouldn’t be worth it for them, outside of getting a solid return, like a mid-round pick.

Now, that’s not to say Burks could even fetch that much in a trade, but it would make more sense to hold on to him as depth rather than trading him away for a late-round pick, which is a far more likely return.

The Titans have had no shortage of injuries in recent years, and all three of the aforementioned receivers are either over 30 or about to hit it later this year.

Barring a strong offer, Tennessee is better served keeping Burks as depth with the hope he can improve his stock to either show he’s a long-term solution or garner a better return in a trade down the road.

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Can Titans WR Treylon Burks shed the bust label in 2024?

Titans WR Treylon Burks is going to have one hell of a time trying to shed the bust label in 2024.

The first two years of Tennessee Titans 2022 first-round pick and wide receiver Treylon Burks’ career have been a major disappointment, thanks to injuries and a lack of production when healthy.

And, when you include the fact that Burks was drafted to replace A.J. Brown after the Titans foolishly traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, it only makes things worse for the Arkansas product.

It’s fair to, at the very least, start calling Burks a bust considering where he was drafted and what he’s produced, and he’s going to have one hell of a time trying to shed that label this coming season.

The best thing Burks has going for him is the fact that the Titans are going to move to a more pass-heavy offense under head coach Brian Callahan. He also has a gunslinger at quarterback in Will Levis.

However, Burks went from being the No. 2 option on the depth chart to start 2023, to no better than No. 4 ahead of 2024 after the additions of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, who make up a strong top three along with DeAndre Hopkins.

As a result of the newly-crowded wide receivers room, snaps and targets will be tough to come by for the third-year wideout, making it far less likely he breaks out and sheds the bust label in 2024.

The only realistic path for Burks to revive his career this coming season is for one of the Titans’ top-three wideouts to get injured, which, based on how things have gone for Tennessee the past few years when it comes to injuries, is very possible.

Knowing that, the Titans are far better off holding on to Burks rather than trading him, as they’ll likely only get a late-round pick. That’s simply not enough for Tennessee to justify cutting into their depth.

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What Titans’ Tyler Boyd signing means for Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips

What the Titans’ signing of Tyler Boyd means for Treylon Burks and Kyle Philips moving forward.

The Tennessee Titans are reportedly adding wide receiver Tyler Boyd on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million in free agency, which is very bad news for both Kyle Philips and Treylon Burks.

Boyd, 29, is a slot specialist and very familiar with head coach Brian Callahan’s offense after playing in it for five season. He now becomes the favorite to be the No. 3 option in Tennessee’s wide receivers room behind DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley.

That knocks Burks down in the pecking order even farther and will limit his snaps considerably, assuming he stays in Nashville and isn’t traded, which now becomes much more possible.

It’s also disastrous for Philips’ chances of seeing playing time, as he’s a slot-only receiver. He may not even make the team at this point and will have to find other ways to contribute if he wants to, like with returning kicks.

However, we’ve already been down that road and it wasn’t good. It wouldn’t be at all shocking to see Philips traded, also, although it remains to be seen how interested teams will be in a player who hasn’t done much of anything over the past two years.

Burks is much more likely to draw interest, but neither he nor Philips will garner much in a deal. The Titans might be better off holding on to Burks specifically, just in case of injury.

Whatever the case may be, both Burks and Philips are in much worse shape with the Titans than they were when they woke up this morning.

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