The Cincinnati Bengals have historically drafted wide receivers very well since their inception in 1968. The list includes Chad Johnson, A.J. Green, Issac Curtis, Carl Pickens, Cris Collinsworth, Eddie Brown, Darnay Scott, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, and most recently, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase. The next great Bengals wideout might be this year’s third-round selection Jermaine Burton from Alabama. The former Crimson Tide product has all the tools to excel at the next level, and his slide was largely based on character concerns that Cincinnati hopes are forever behind him. Burton is a big play vertical threat with fantastic hands, and tracking ability and is quick off the line of scrimmage. Look for the Bengals to utilize Burton in multiple ways by pairing him with Chase and Higgins to find the most favorable matchup for each player.
Cincinnati Bengals Player Profile: Jermaine Burton
College Career
Burton spent the first, two seasons of his career playing for Georgia where he amassed 53 receptions for 891 yards and eight touchdowns and helped the Bulldogs win a national title in 2021. He ultimately decided to transfer to play for Nick Saban ahead of the 2022 season and would end up as Alabama’s leading wide receiver the next year. In two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Burton played in 23 games with 1338 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns with an SEC-leading 20.5 yards per catch average.
Housh Your Mentor
The most excited person other than Bengals head coach Zac Taylor in the drafting of Burton had to be Houshmanzadeh. He has been training Burton for several years in California and their relationship likely played a role in Cincinnati feeling comfortable working through some of the past red flags with assurances from Housh. Burton spoke glowingly about the former Bengals star and said “It’s honestly amazing having T.J. train me the past few years, even going into college. Working with him is honestly great. Just to know his history, his background with the game of football, his knowledge on it and to see the way he thinks. The way he puts it into the drills, the way he talks to you and his terminology, it really helps me. We also developed a relationship to the point where we talked about other things — just life things and a lot of maturity and growth.”
Don’t Stop Believing
The Bengals have done a fantastic job surrounding Joe Burrow with skill players since he was drafted in 2020. Adding Burton to the mix is another feather in the cap of the organization and will give Burrow another deadly option to rely on when the season starts. The connection already seems to be growing since rookies arrived on May 10th in Phase Two workouts.
Joe Burrow to Jermaine Burton 👀
(🎥 @Bengals) pic.twitter.com/9u9l5UW6dc
— PFF (@PFF) May 13, 2024
The Bengals drafted Burton with the belief he could be another viable deep threat to take the offense to new levels. Since Burrow and Burton have often spoken about their affinity for extraterrestrials the orange and black hope the on-the-field results are out of this world.
Main Photo: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
