The Buffalo Bills
have reportedly extended an invitation to former third-round pick and Cincinnati Bengals
wide receiver Jermaine Burton
. He's a 24-year-old former Alabama standout who is looking for another chance in the league. Buffalo is giving him a shot; now it's all up to Burton.
There are more than a handful of red flags
surrounding wide receiver Jermaine Burton. But as much as that is true, it's also true that his talent is off the charts.
Burton is his own worst enemy throughout his brief NFL career. He just hasn't been able to put it all together. Burton was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round
(80th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a highly touted wide receiver coming out of Alabama, who was viewed as having high upside.
There were also some pre-draft character concerns.
Nevertheless, Burton is getting another shot at his NFL dream after things didn't work out with the Bengals. It's been reported that Burton will take part in the Bills' rookie minicamp as he attempts to get back into the league. As Jordan Schultz reported, the wide receiver is just 24 years old. He'll get his chance with the Bills.
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Burton finished with just four receptions for 107 yards on 14 targets as a rookie. During college, he amassed 2,376 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 47.5 yards per game.
Fans have been divided on social media, with plenty thinking that Burton doesn't deserve another shot. Just hours after the draft ended, Buffalo is once again the talk of the town.
Jermaine Burton is a long shot, but crazier things have happened in the NFL
The Bills drafted wide receiver Skyler Bell with one of the team's fourth-round selections
in the 2026 NFL Draft, with many hoping that he's the future at the position. Or at least a viable option for quarterback Josh Allen
and the offense. The team didn't wait long, looking to bolster that room yet again with the invitation to Burton.
Best-case scenario, he comes in and competes and gives Keon Coleman
a run for his money in the offense. Worst-case scenario, he doesn't make it out of minicamp.
Burton is not going to come in and light the league on fire, and his off-the-field issues were a major point of conversation when I spoke with A to Z Cincinnati writer John Sheeran
about what he thinks of Burton during his time with the Bengals.
"There were clear warning signs about Burton, and they were completely justified from the Bengals' point of view. There was never a true buy-in from the former third-round pick. He was unreliable at showing up to practice on time, and additional off-field issues popped up during his brief time in Cincinnati as well. He forced the team's hand to sideline him, including a week in which he was supposed to be a featured part of the game plan. It all culminated in his release last December. All you can hope is he takes full advantage of his newfound opportunity, and hopefully a true fresh start gets him on the right path."
John Sheeran
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A to Z Sports
At this point, it's about as low-risk, high-upside as it gets for Buffalo.
If Burton can keep his head down and simply focus on football, there's real talent there worth tapping into. The Bills aren't asking him to come in and be any kind of savior; they're looking for him to compete. And in a room that's still looking for some answers, there's an opportunity sitting right in front of him.
Though it'll be very difficult for him to make it. But that's the thing, it's entirely up to Burton.
Buffalo has done its part by opening the door. Whether this turns into redemption or just another "what could have been" will come down to whether Burton can finally stop getting out of his own way.
