Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn ACL, and his relative health could lead to a trade. Selected with the pick acquired in the infamous A.J. Brown trade, the Arkansas product showed some promise as a rookie, recording 33 receptions for 444 yards and one touchdown in just 11 games. Unfortunately, he couldn’t build on that performance, catching just 16 passes and 2023 and becoming a complete afterthought in 2024 with four receptions for 34 yards in five games.
The Titans declined his fifth-year option before the season, and his odds of making the team continue to drop as he returns from an ACL injury. While head coach Brian Callahan said he’s ahead of schedule and roughly 80% of the way back from his injury, he may never play a regular season game with first-overall pick Cam Ward . He’s clearly not a fit in Tennessee, especially with Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett already on the roster, but some other team could take a late-round flier on him and see if he has any untapped potential.
Titans Could Trade Treylon Burks As Injury Rehab Progresses
Possible Fits
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a promising WR1 in former Seattle Seahawk D.K. Metcalf, but this team could use another weapon. Aaron Rodgers is still a starting-caliber quarterback, but the former four-time NFL MVP is nowhere close to being the unstoppable force he was at the peak of his career. Rodgers needs help to guide this team to their elusive playoff win, but there aren’t many reliable wide receivers available at this point in the offseason. Perhaps Treylon Burks can find his collegiate form with a trade to a team that excels at developing wide receivers.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers spent the offseason bolstering the trenches and becoming a more physical football team, which aligns with head coach Jim Harbaugh’s overall philosophy. While Justin Herbert is good enough to power a passing attack with just Ladd McConkey and perhaps second-round rookie Tre Harris, it wouldn’t hurt to add a low-risk, medium-reward player like Treylon Burks in a trade. Seeing as he shouldn’t cost more than a late-round pick, a team like Los Angeles playing in one of the league’s most competitive divisions could use the additional depth.
New Orleans Saints
With Derek Carr calling it a career, the New Orleans Saints are officially in rebuild mode and should spend the upcoming season trying to find young players that can be a part of their long-term outlook. Treylon Burks is entering his age-25 season and, in theory, should have several more years in his tank if a trade can revitalize his career. In a perfect world, Burks will join with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed to give second-round pick Tyler Shough two reliable weapons.
New York Jets
Garrett Wilson is one of the game’s best young wide receivers, but the New York Jets need another set of hands. This will be a run-first offense as long as quarterback Justin Fields is under center, but they need someone like Burks who can line up wide, command the defense’s respect, and even help out as a blocker.