Treylon Burks Gets a Second Chance in D.C. - And This Time, the Fit Might Be Right
When Treylon Burks came out of Arkansas in 2022, the buzz was real. His size, versatility, and physicality had scouts drawing comparisons to Deebo Samuel - a wide receiver who could shift into the backfield and bulldoze defenders like a running back.
But when the Tennessee Titans made their move, selecting Burks 18th overall after trading away A.J. Brown, it was a different comp that loomed larger - and heavier.
The Titans didn’t just draft a receiver. They drafted a replacement.
And in Burks, they saw shades of Brown - a big-bodied, vertical threat who could stretch the field and make contested catches look routine. But the reality didn’t match the projection.
Injuries piled up. The drops kept coming.
And by Year 3, with a new coaching staff and a rookie quarterback still finding his footing, the Titans - and their fans - had seen enough.
Now, Burks is in Washington, and while the circumstances that brought him there were far from ideal, the opportunity in front of him is very real.
A New Start in the Nation’s Capital
The Commanders were in scramble mode. Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown were dealing with injuries.
Luke McCaffrey, the promising second-year wideout, went down too. That’s when Adam Peters made the call, bringing Burks onto the practice squad just ten days after Tennessee cut ties.
Burks made his debut in Week 9 against the Seahawks, then saw a bit more action against the Lions before the team’s bye. In those two games, he caught all four of his targets and averaged 18 yards per catch - a small sample size, sure, but an encouraging one.
Then came the game against Denver. Burks didn’t fill up the box score - just one catch for five yards.
But that one catch? It was the kind of play that reminds you why he was a first-round pick in the first place.
A spinning, leaping, one-handed touchdown grab that instantly went viral. The kind of highlight that brings Odell Beckham Jr. to mind. The kind of play that makes you stop and say, “Oh, that’s why he was so hyped.”
What Comes Next?
This is where things get interesting. Burks has a chance to rewrite the narrative - not just as a reclamation project, but as a legitimate piece of Washington’s offensive future.
If he can stay healthy - and that’s a big “if” - he could carve out a real role in this offense. With Kliff Kingsbury calling plays (assuming he sticks around) and Jayden Daniels continuing to grow as the franchise quarterback, the fit makes sense.
McLaurin is locked in as the X receiver. Burks, with his size and long stride, could slot in as a Z - a downfield threat who can win on the perimeter and open up space for the quicker slot guys like McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane.
Burks doesn’t have top-end burner speed, but he doesn’t need it. His game is built on power, body control, and physical mismatches. He’s the kind of receiver who can post up smaller corners and win 50-50 balls, especially in the red zone.
Of course, there’s still work to be done. He has to clean up his route-running.
The drops need to stop. And, above all, he needs to stay on the field.
But for the first time in a while, Burks is in a situation that suits him. He’s not being asked to replace a star.
He’s not being handed WR1 expectations. He’s being given a chance - a real one - to grow into a role that plays to his strengths.
And if he does? Washington might have stumbled into a weapon they didn’t even know they needed.