Jordan Burch 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Oregon Ducks DL

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) runs through Oregon Ducks defensive end Jordan Burch (1) during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Tale Of The Tape

Burch is a surprisingly diverse, potent pass rusher for such a big end. He illustrated alignment versatility throughout his two years at Oregon, but the vast majority of his opportunities have come as a 4i or 5-tech playing overtop of offensive tackles. Given his run-defending abilities, it would be favorable to keep him playing closer to the fringes of the core and keep him out of the mauling middle. 

As a pass rusher, Burch offers a blend of speed, power, and technique to manipulate opposing tackles. He’s got a good burst for his stature and will pair his rush approach with heavy and diverse hands. He’s capable of winning with a long arm, speed to power, and a bull rush to apply force and has counters off of that style that includes a rip, chop, spin, and lift.

Burch generally showcases variety and good reactive instincts with these counters, avoiding the trap of predetermining moves that won’t work or falling into the same counter repeatedly. 

Athletically, Burch is a well-regarded player who was recognized on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List. The Oregon staff credited him with hitting more than 20.5mph on the GPS player tracking and boasting impressive explosiveness testing. You see these traits in how he plays with power rushing the passer, but his application of gifts is not equal across all opportunities. 

As a run defender, Burch can be tested in a number of ways. Linear solo and combo blocks can test his ability to keep his pad level down. If he fails to stay down on his base, he can be bubbled and displaced or otherwise get stuck on blocks. His deconstruction of blocks is less consistent than his pass-rush counters. At times, Burch can struggle with playing at the fringes of his wingspan and is vulnerable to getting outreached by opposing linemen. In these instances, he’ll fight for leverage or gap integrity but can be too easily manipulated or displaced out of position. 

Burch is much stronger and more stout in linear situations. When he can play over top of a single opponent, he stands a better chance of maintaining his power posture and creating a neutral stalemate. However, that comes with conditions for the entire front if you need to cover opposing players in his vicinity, and many teams will be unlikely to make such accommodations — instead opting for a rotational role and playing Burch on passing downs exclusively. 

There’s an appeal there, however. By playing Burch only on the passing downs, you do get more variety in personnel combinations and where you can line him up without much concern for his interior run design. As a result, he’ll have a wider menu for teams as a designated pass rusher early in his career.

Ideal Scheme Fit, Role

Burch projects best as a base end at the NFL level. This is a potential starter if he can better leverage his pads and hands at the point of attack to be more consistent as a run defender and be more stout with real estate along the line of scrimmage.

He’s a wonderfully diverse pass-rush talent who could win as an end in either odd or even fronts when playing over the top of tackles. 

Grade: 75.50/100.00, Third Round Value

Big Board Rank: TBD

Position Rank: TBD