DJ Burns is taking over the college basketball world. His North Carolina State Wolfpack continues to advance in the March Madness tournament, and they’re now in the Final Four. Burns is a massive human being who has caught the eye of fans and athletes alike over the last couple of weeks.
While he seems to be finding success on the basketball court, there are those in NFL circles who believe Burns could potentially be a professional football player.
DJ Burns in the NFL? Some Think He Can Make the Switch
While Burns’ has been productive on the court for the Wolfpack, the most impressive thing about him seems to be his frame. Many in the football world feel like Burns could make a switch to the gridiron, and at a listed height and weight of 6’9″ and 275 pounds, it shouldn’t be discredited as a possibility.
Some have already begun recruiting him to explore the idea.
Yeah DJ Burns you’re killing it in this @MarchMadnessMBB tournament. But your future is playing left tackle in the @NFL. Go look at the contracts tonight and report back.
— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) March 31, 2024
New York Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh took to social media on Sunday to let Burns know of his untapped football potential.
“Yeah DJ Burns you’re killing it in this @MarchMadnessMBB tournament. But your future is playing left tackle in the @NFL. Go look at the contracts tonight and report back.”
While that was just one player’s perspective on the matter, former college and NFL players were chiming in as well.
DJ Burns could be OT1 with those feet. come be great, king!
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) March 31, 2024
Mike Golic Jr. echoed the same sentiment that Pugh did and also thinks Burns’ brightest future resides with a football helmet and shoulder pads on.
“DJ Burns could be OT1 with those feet. come be great, king!”
It wasn’t just players that chimed in on Burns’ NFL potential, either. It seems as if those around the league who do the scouting have had their interests peaked as well.
Spoke to and texted multiple scouts/GMs about NC State big man DJ Burns as an NFL OT prospect over the last 24 hours.He is listed at 6’9, but probably is 6’7. A+ footwork. Would get big turnout & potentially $ if he participated in a Pro Day/workout the week after the Final 4. pic.twitter.com/zxyufktHeC
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 1, 2024
NFL insider Peter Schrager took it upon himself to do a temperature check around the league for Burns, and it seems that there is some real fire to accompany the smoke.
“Spoke to and texted multiple scouts/GMs about NC State big man DJ Burns as an NFL OT prospect over the last 24 hours. He is listed at 6’9 but probably is 6’7. A+ footwork. Would get big turnout & potentially $ if he participated in a Pro Day/workout the week after the Final 4.”
Got texts from a GM, Ass't GM, and college director within an hour of posting this on Friday night. NFL interest in D.J. Burns is a real thing. https://t.co/lqk77d0Kx1
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 1, 2024
Senior Bowl’s Jim Nagy talks about the messages he received just adding further legitimacy to the idea of Burns transitioning to the NFL grind iron if he so chooses.
“Got texts from a GM, Ass’t GM, and college director within an hour of posting this on Friday night. NFL interest in D.J. Burns is a real thing.”
On ESPN’s First Take on Monday morning, Shannon Sharpe also suggested a potential NFL career for Burns, saying he can call Willie Anderson to work with him to be a tackle.
Add Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith to the chorus of media members who believe that North Carolina State big man DJ Burns can play in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/2rlyHaIcda
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 1, 2024
“There’s a lot of basketball players that transition to the NFL and made great careers,” said Sharpe at the end.
Whether Burns would even consider doing such a thing remains to be seen, but the fact of the matter is, if he wanted to, there looks to be real interest in the young man if he chose that path.
What Is Burns’ NBA Draft Stock?
This season is Burns’ final year of eligibility playing college basketball, but is the NC State big man a legitimate NBA Draft prospect?
Even though Burns has been a March Madness star, it doesn’t appear he’s projected to be a high-level NBA Draft prospect.
On NBA Draft Analyst Jonathan Wasserman’s big board for Bleacher Report, he doesn’t even have Burns ranked in his top 100. That means, according to Wasserman, he doesn’t believe Burns is worthy of being drafted. The NBA Draft only consists of two rounds and 60 total picks.
ESPN’s NBA Draft Analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo also appear to be on the same page as Wasserman, as Burns goes undrafted in their most recent two-round 2024 NBA Mock Draft.
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The knock on Burns appears to be that his game doesn’t translate very well to today’s NBA, which places less of an emphasis on his biggest strengths and is more tailored to his greatest flaws.
According to Sporting News’ scouting report, Burns is projected to be an undrafted free agent, with the biggest areas of concern being that he is a non-shooter outside of the paint and that he lacks the length, athleticism, and verticality to be an effective defensive player at the next level.
Have Any Former NFL Players Had Zero College Football Experience?
If Burns were to make the switch to football without playing a single down in college football, he wouldn’t be the first to do so. It’s not an extensive list, but impressive NFL careers have done something similar before.
- Vince Papale, WR
- Lawrence Okoye, DE
- Antonio Gates, TE
- Ray Seals, DE
- Efe Obada, DE
- Rico Gathers, TE
- Eric Swann, DT
- Michael Lewis, WR
