The Alabama Crimson Tide managed to turn their 2023 season around after some lackluster showings at the beginning of the season, eventually winning the SEC title game and going to the College Football Playoff. One of the key contributors to that Alabama team was wide receiver Jermaine Burton, who is part of a deep receiver draft class for the 2024 NFL Draft. Here’s a look at how he projects at the next level, along with his potential stock in fantasy football.
Burton had some inconsistencies during the early stages of his college career at Georgia, but he started to show signs of developing into an all-around star over his two seasons at Alabama. It’s hard to know how he’ll do as a possession receiver since his best skill was being able to locate deep balls.
Jermaine Burton: Scouting Report
Due to quarterback Jalen Milroe’s inconsistencies and Alabama leaning into the run game more, Burton was often relegated to simply being targeted on deep routes a handful of times per game. He did have some massive showings against Texas A&M and Auburn but had some equally perplexing duds. He’s likely to be more productive in a secondary role in an offense but should have some immediate success as a home run threat.
Mock Draft landing spots
According to NFL.com, Burton is projected to go in the fifth round. That makes him a Day 3 option, and teams like the Broncos or Cardinals could be interested in adding him as a depth piece. Perhaps a squad like the Eagles, Bucs or Falcons might also be compelled to take a flier on Burton, especially if he drops a bit. One thing working against Burton is the abundance of talented receivers in the class. If there’s a run on receivers early, there’s a chance Burton doesn’t have many landing spots later in the event.
Fantasy football implications
It all depends on what offense Burton lands in. He’s unlikely to be on the field much during his rookie season, but he might have some intrigue in long-term formats. Burton will probably have some home run moments but is not worth rostering in fantasy football during his rookie season. He’ll probably stay on the waiver wire unless there are lots of injuries or Burton carves out a bigger role than expected.