NFL Scouting Combine: Deep Draft for Wide Receivers, but Titans Still Believe in Treylon Burks

INDIANAPOLIS — Treylon Burks' first two years in the NFL haven't gone according to plan. Injuries have hindered the early career of the former first-round pick out of Arkansas, but Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon still believes the wide receiver has the ability to make a difference.

Carthon spoke highly of Burks on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Now that the wide receiver enters an offseason with a clean bill of health, the Titans general manager believes some progress can be made. 

"I do know Treylon is off this season training with (DeAndre Hopkins) and some others from around the league," Carthon said. "Which I think will be good for him to see how other pros prepare and get ready for the season so he can add that to his game. I've seen a couple clips of him running routes and doing stuff in the offseason.

"And for him, it's an offseason where he's not trying to get healthy. He can work on perfecting his craft as opposed to trying to get healthy."

Last season, Burks totaled just 221 yards on 16 catches. As a rookie in 2022, he caught 33 passes for 444 yards and a touchdown.

That lack of production from a former first-round pick is a huge reason why the Titans are in desperate need of a wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft. Both Carthon and coach Brian Callahan talked about adding "playmakers" to the roster.

But Carthon isn't ready to give up on Burks, saying that injury issues have played a big role in Burks' struggles on the field.

"Well, I think the injury thing, the concussion thing was a real deal. I think we all saw that from the Pittsburgh game," he said. "Those are the type of things you can't really prevent."

As Burks enters his third season with Tennessee, the franchise needs to start seeing better production, and quickly. Maybe a fully-healthy offseason will help the receiver live up to the first-round potential.