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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Natalie Miller

Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton could be this year’s Puka Nacua

With the Cincinnati Bengals losing franchise staple Tyler Boyd this offseason, the team knew they needed to add some more depth to the receiver position in the draft. Passing over receivers in the first two rounds, the Bengals eventually landed on a receiver who may end up being one of the steals in the draft in former Alabama playmaker Jermaine Burton.

Last season at Alabama, Burton was a certified big play threat, averaging over twenty yards a catch and establishing himself as the primary deep threat of the Crimson Tide offense. Burton’s explosiveness, play strength, and ball skills cannot be understated as they translate extremely well to the next level.

With quarterback Joe Burrow returning fully healthy and teams focusing on shutting down the dynamic duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Burton could find himself taking advantage of teams looking away from him. His tape in college showed him consistently bursting past defenders and catching balls over them, and if not for some reported “character issues,” he could have gone much higher in the draft.

Under Zac Taylor this offense is going to be able to spread it out and take advantage of their multiple stud receivers and their new dynamic tight end in Mike Gesicki. The opportunities are going to be there for Burton to shock everyone and find himself as one of the most productive rookie receivers in the league and maybe even cross the 1,000 yard mark.

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