The 2022 NFL draft class has been consistently described as underwhelming by casual fans due to the lack of a surefire number one pick at quarterback. When looking deeper into this class though, there are plenty of position players who could make a huge difference to the teams drafting them. The main aspect that this class does have is its deep group of wide receivers. Plenty of receivers could make a huge difference in NFL offenses like Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Drake London, Chris Olave, Jahan Dotson, David Bell, and many others. 

While many receivers in the 2022 draft have great potential, none catch my eye more than the junior wide receiver out of Arkansas, Treylon Burks. When looking at Burks, he offers all the aspects a team would look for in a dominant receiver. He is 6’3’’, 225 lbs, and has massive hands as he wears a 5XL glove. During his 2021 season, he finished with 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns as the premier threat in the Arkansas offense. Treylon Burks has the combination of strong size and athleticism that reminds me of generational receivers.

As far as his in-game production goes, Burks’ greatest performance this season came against his most important opponent. Arkansas matched up against Alabama in late November and Treylon Burks went off. Despite suffering a first-half upper-body injury, he finished with eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Looking like a man amongst boys, his best play came when he had a catch on a slight push-off of Alabama senior cornerback, Josh Jobe. The injured Burks then raced down the middle of the field past several Crimson Tide defenders for a 66-yard touchdown. When looking for pro-level defenses, no college team comes closer to that level than Alabama year after year. That’s what makes this performance so important for Burks as it shows what he can do against top talent, even when he is somewhat hobbled.

The best comparison I can come up with for someone of Burks’ stature and athletic talent is the star receiver for the Tenessee Titans, A.J. Brown. One could say that comparison is jumping the gun a bit but the appearance and production on the field show that A.J. Brown had a very similar look to him coming out of Ole Miss in 2018. A.J. Brown is 6’1’’ and 225 lbs so Treylon Burks has pretty much the same build but he’s two inches taller and has larger hands. When the NFL Combine comes around, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Burks have relatively similar results to what A.J. Brown was able to produce. Burks’ landing spot in the draft may play more of a role in how well he is able to perform in his rookie year but the talent and physical build are certainly there.

Plenty of NFL teams will be in the market for wide receivers by the time the offseason rolls around. With plenty of free-agent receivers looking toward greener pastures, the possible landing spots for Burks have a wide range of attractiveness to them. Burks has a decent shot at being the first receiver off the board, especially now that Jameson Williams suffered a torn ACL in the championship game. Without any pre-draft trades, the most likely landing spots for him include Atlanta, New Orleans, and Cleveland. It’s a toss-up on how those situations could work out for him as there are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes. However, you’d like to believe that his talent and build will make any situation he falls into a good one for his overall production. Whether you are playing in dynasty leagues or just an NFL fan, keep an eye on Treylon Burks as he could be a special talent.