The offseason hasn't necessarily been kind to third-year Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks. The Titans acquired multiple receivers that leave Burks in an unclear, lesser-defined role. He's entering a make-or-break season in 2024, and he'll have to earn every rep he receives.
Treylon Burks gettin props for tracking this deep ball from Will Levis #Titans pic.twitter.com/y6FEvnjXwz
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) May 29, 2024
Through no fault of his own, Burks' arrival in Tennessee was immediately met with shock and disappointment. Previous general manager Jon Robinson acquired him via a draft-day trade that sent franchise wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. It's not Burks' fault that Robinson bungled contract negotiations with Brown, but Burks’ struggles to stay healthy and productive haven't helped his reputation. The sting still lingers.
Burks' rookie season was a mess. He missed various offseason practices while battling asthma in the Nashville heat. Burks ended up on injured reserve just four games into his debut campaign with turf toe. He ultimately appeared in 11 games, totaling 33 receptions for 444 yards and one touchdown.
The word around Tennessee was that Burks was prepared to showcase sizable sophomore growth in 2023. He routinely made eye-popping plays in practice and looked healthier than the year before. Unfortunately, none of the offseason hype translated to actual on-field results. A knee injury suffered during a joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings derailed the start of his season. Burks ended up appearing in even less games (10) and his role was reduced to 16 catches for 221 yards and zero touchdowns.
The Titans made sweeping, and I do mean sweeping, changes to their offense this offseason. Current general manager Ran Carthon (who did not draft Burks) fired run-heavy head coach Mike Vrabel and replaced him with the pass-happy Brian Callahan, Joe Burrow's former offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals. Of all 32 teams in the league, it's quite possible that the Titans will look most unrecognizable in 2024 from their 2023 iteration.
Titans WR Treylon Burks on the new offense: “similar to what I ran in college”…👀 pic.twitter.com/76DqD8mKBB
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) May 29, 2024
Callahan's priority is to develop sophomore quarterback Will Levis, who flashed franchise QB potential last season. It also meant acquiring a bunch of proven receivers to A) help Callahan install his offense, and B) ensure Levis has the necessary weapons at his disposal. The Titans decided not to rely on Burks this season. Instead, they're treating any contributions they get from him as a bonus.
DeAndre Hopkins is still the starting "X" receiver after posting 1,000 yards in that role last season. Calvin Ridley was signed to an extremely lucrative multi-year contract to serve as the "Z." And finally, Tyler Boyd, who played multiple seasons for Callahan in Cincinnati, was added to play his familiar slot position. The Titans have a clear top three at receiver, and there's no room for Burks in 11 personnel when all are healthy.
Calvin Ridley on Treylon Burks: “This dude is a freak. Seriously, bro. … He’s like Julio, AJ Brown. T.O. Dude that big that fast, man? He’s a stud. You don’t have to worry about him.” #titanup pic.twitter.com/qaC4GA3NIe
— Ben Arthur 🇬🇭 (@benyarthur) May 29, 2024
Burks should have no problem assuming the WR4 role, though he may receive pushback from coach's pet Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. If Burks proves capable of backing up Hopkins at X, Ridley at Z, and Boyd in the slot, he should play his way onto the field in certain packages, or when injuries occur. Becoming more versatile will be key to securing playing time.
Maximizing his opportunities, no matter how few, could actually help Burks capture a bigger role in 2025 than he's slated to possess in 2024. The Titans may roster an impressive trio of receivers this season, but that's not slated to be the case next year. Both Hopkins and Boyd have one year remaining on their current contracts and are aging assets. Ridley is scheduled to be the lone proven receiver in 2025, and Burks could enter his own contract year with a larger scheduled workload.
Burks hasn't met expectations as the 18th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Changes on offense guarantee to minimize his role in 2024, but the onus is on him to earn the trust of Levis and the coaching staff. Burks will receive one final opportunity to prove worthy of being relied on.