Alabama’s Jermaine Burton is one of the most polarizing prospects in this draft class.
His tape suggests he is a first-round talent, but factors outside of his production on the field have potentially pushed Burton down the board for many NFL teams in the market for a gifted pass catcher entering the professional ranks.
Here is everything you need to know about Burton and his evaluation as a prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
How Tall Is Jermaine Burton?
Burton’s physical profile falls a bit more on the serviceable side than elite, landing into the 36th percentile for the position at 6’0”.
His arm length (31”) is equally below average, coming in at the 31st percentile in direct comparison to his positional peers. Yet, his hand size (9 7/8”) is favorably disproportional to the rest of his frame, coming in at the 72nd percentile among his receiver counterparts.
How Much Does Burton Weigh?
Despite not having a slightly smaller build, Burton’s weight at 196 pounds still puts him in the 36th percentile for the position. Don’t let his lower weight fool you, though, as his explosive metrics are certainly present, with both his vertical jump (38.5”) and broad jump (11’1”) coming in above the 80th percentile.
How Old Is Burton?
Burton enters the 2024 NFL Draft as a 22-year-old receiver prospect who will turn 23 before the start of his rookie season.
Burton falls in the middle of the pack regarding his age among the rest of the receivers expected to hear their name called during the draft later this month.
What School Did Burton Go To?
When the two programs you’ve spent your entire college tenure with have a combined five appearances in the College Football Playoffs, then there is a proven track record of team success wherever you go.
Burton spent the first two years of his college playing days with the Georgia Bulldogs before joining the Alabama Crimson Tide to finish out his final two years at the collegiate level.
Revisiting Burton’s College Career
Starting your college career during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season wasn’t exactly an easy task for any true freshman, but Burton still managed to catch 27 passes for 404 yards and three scores for the Bulldogs straight out of high school.
His second campaign was a bit disappointing, considering he posted mostly identical numbers — 26 receptions for 497 yards and five scores — while playing in an additional four games in direct comparison to his freshman year.
The year of Jermaine Burton ascending as a ‘23 #NFLDraft prospect begins with #RollTide’s first TD of the game!
DB can’t keep with the speedy former Georgia WR in the back of the end zone and Burton ends up in a ton of space for an easy catch
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 4, 2022
Burton transferred to Alabama to play for Nick Saban ahead of the 2022 season and made an instant impact on the Crimson Tide’s offense. His 40 receptions for 677 yards and seven TDs set new career-high marks in his first season at Alabama.
Despite still making an impact, Burton’s numbers once again stayed neutral in his second season with the Crimson Tide. He caught 39 passes for 798 yards and eight TDs to finish his collegiate career.
Burton’s Potential in the NFL
Burton is a bit of a puzzling prospect entering the professional ranks. His tape suggests he can be an effective receiver gaining separation against man coverage, has a diverse release package to consistently win against press coverage, and was deployed as a weapon on all three levels of the football field.
Yet, whispers of off-the-field and personality concerns in the locker room seem to have put him out of the first-round conversation entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Burton’s lack of elite production comes into question regarding his potential off-the-field issues. On one hand, he failed to take a significant step up with his production at both locations in college, but he was competing with other NFL-caliber talents for targets in both situations.
Sure, his height and lack of length could lead to some efficiency issues in contested catch situations or working against longer, more physical corners at the next level. This could limit his role to either a flanker or slot specialist in the NFL, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in the right situation.
His variety of ways to create separation and playmaking ability as a vertical threat certainly make him a talent worthy of a Day 2 selection.
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