Cleveland Browns: 3 targets to trade up for in 2022 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns Draft: Prospect No. 2 — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Two months ago, it seemed completely inconceivable that Treylon Burks would make it outside of the top 20 picks of the NLF draft. The Arkansas product had cemented himself as one of the premier playmakers in the college football landscape in 2021. Burks, a first-team SEC receiver, recorded 64 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns.

From a defensive perspective, the SEC is the tip of the spear in college football, and Burks was able to produce at an elite level despite being his team’s lone offensive weapon. What’s even more impressive is how Burks produced perennial power Alabama. The junior walked into Tuscaloosa and left with eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

However, Burks’ pre-draft hype took a major hit at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Expectations were sky-high heading into the event, but Burks left a lot to be desired during the testing process. His 4.55 40-yard dash time left him tied as the 22nd fastest in his positional group in Indianapolis. When you combine his 33-inch vertical jump with his 122-inch broad jump, it does not paint the picture of someone who was projected to be in the upper-tier of explosive prospects.

When the tape does not match the physical testing, sometimes teams can overthink a prospect’s draft value and an unthinkable slide can occur on draft night. However, with GPS testing being more valued by some franchises, Burks’ testing could be an afterthought for the more forward-thinking general managers.

With teams like the Chiefs and Packers both having two picks in the first round, it is highly unlikely that Burks slips through the cracks to the second round. But, if Burks does somehow slide past night one, Berry will no doubt be working the phones to see what it would take to land the playmaker.