The Tennessee Titans both added and subtracted wide receivers on the first night of the 2022 NFL draft, as the team traded wideout A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles and selected wide receiver Treylon Burks with the No. 18 overall pick they acquired in the deal with Philly.
As much as the Titans will need Burks to step in immediately and replace Brown, the rookie wideout out of Arkansas isn’t looking at it that way.
“I am happy to be a part of the team now, and play my role,” Burks said, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “I wouldn’t say I am (A.J.)’s replacement, but I am thankful for the opportunity and that they believed in me to make that trade.”
Treylon Burks on comparisons to AJ Brown: I don't compare myself to anyone. I'm Treylon Burks and there's nobody else like me. I'm coming in with 100% effort.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) April 29, 2022
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound wide receiver says he got a phone call from the Titans first, and then saw on Instagram that the team had traded Brown.
Burks said he got a phone call from the #Titans and looked on instagram and say that they had traded Brown to the #Eagles.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) April 29, 2022
Burks, who described himself as “big, fast, physical and fearless,” revealed that his high school coach predicted Tennessee would take him earlier in the day.
“My high school head coach said this morning that the Titans were going to get me,” Burks said. “I didn’t believe him at the time, but once I got the call I was like, ‘This dude was right.”
Treylon Burks shows us his hands. #Titans. pic.twitter.com/8uLdWzsmhK
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) April 29, 2022
Burks is already familiar with a few of his new teammates, as he says he played the “Madden NFL” video game with Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill, the latter of whom he expressed respect for.
.@TreylonBurks said he played Madden with Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry@Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) April 29, 2022
Burks said he has tremendous respect for #Titans QB Ryan Tannehill.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) April 29, 2022
Now that he’s officially in the NFL, Burks says he plans on working his butt off and just wants to play football.
.@TreylonBurks said he didn't care where he was drafted, he just wants to play football.
Said he plans to work his ass off@Titans— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) April 29, 2022
We were originally huge fans of the Titans picking Burks, albeit with the intention of pairing him with Brown. Now, with Brown gone to Philly, the Titans will need even more out of their rookie wideout, who was the perfect pick considering the circumstances.
