1. Introduction
Treylon Burks burst onto the NFL scene in 2022 as the Tennessee Titans’ first-round pick (#18 overall), hoped to replace elite receiver A.J. Brown. But his tenure in Nashville—a story of broken expectations, injuries, and a trade lookback—has become a cautionary tale in franchise decision‑making.
2. The A.J. Brown – Treylon Burks Trade
In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Titans traded star WR A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles, receiving the Eagles’ first-round pick (#18) and a third-rounder. Tennessee used the #18 pick to select Burks, and flipped the third-rounder into Roger McCreary, Nicholas Petit‑Frere, and Kyle Phillips Bleeding Green Nation+15PaulKuharsky.com+15Salary Sport+15New York Post+2SI+2NFL.com+2.
Why it looked logical at the time
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A.J. Brown demanded a hefty extension, prompting Tennessee to seek value.
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Burks was an elite prospect from Arkansas with size, toughness, and deep-threat ability.
Outcome & evaluation
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A.J. Brown has thrived in Philadelphia: over 4,000 receiving yards, 25 TDs, multiple Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl title New York Post.
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In contrast, Burks managed just 699 career yards and one TD in three seasons before being waived/injured by the Titans in July 2025 NFL.com+1Instagram+1.
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The trade has been widely panned—often called one of the worst in recent franchise history Over the Cap+15OutKick+15SI+15.
3. Career Overview & Performance
Early Life & College
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Born March 23, 2000 in Flint, Michigan; raised in Warren, Arkansas. Excelled in high school football, basketball, and baseball Wikipedia.
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At the University of Arkansas (2019–2021), he earned SEC honors across three seasons, culminating in a 2021 campaign with 1,104 yards and 11 receiving TDs Wikipedia.
NFL Career Recap
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2022 (Rookie): Played 11 games, 33 receptions for 444 yards and 1 TD Arrowhead Pride+14Wikipedia+14OutKick+14.
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2023: Appeared in 11 games, hauled in 16 receptions for 221 yards; battled knee issues Wikipedia+1The Falcoholic+1.
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2024: Played only five games, totaling just 34 yards before tendon surgery ended his season WikipediaSI.
Injuries & Availability
Persistent injuries—including turf toe, concussions, an ACL tear, knee sprains, and ultimately a fractured collarbone—limited his availability. He missed 24 games over his three seasons NFL.com.
Pro Football Focus (PFF)
Burks’s PFF metrics reflect minimal contributions: low drop rate in limited targets, but limited snaps and poor availability anchored his grades near the bottom among drafted receivers of his class SI.
4. Salary & Contract Breakdown
Rookie Deal & Structure
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Signed in 2022: a four-year rookie contract worth $14,369,590, fully guaranteed, averaging $3,592,398 per yearSalary Sport+2Sportskeeda+2Over the Cap+2.
Year‑by‑Year Compensation (via Spotrac / OTC)
Year | Age | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Roster Bonus | Cap Hit | Cash Paid |
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2022 | 22 | $705,000 | ~$1.91M | — | $2.61M | $8.34M |
2023 | 23 | $939,413 | ~$1.91M | $418,750 | $3.27M | ~$1.36M |
2024 | 24 | $1,567,576 | ~$1.91M | $443,750 | ~$3.92M | ~$2.01M |
2025 | 25 | $2,664,489 | ~$1.91M | — | ~$4.57M | ~$2.66M |
Total | ~ | $14.37M | — | — | $14.37M | |
Wikipedia+3Sportskeeda+3Salary Sport+3Over the Cap |
Net Worth Estimates
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SalarySport places his net worth at approximately $14.37 million as of 2024YouTube+2Salary Sport+2Sportskeeda+2.
5. Trade Rumors & 2025 Developments
Potential Destination
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Rumors emerged linking Burks to potential trades—including the Kansas City Chiefs aiming to bolster their WR depth late in the offseason Over the Cap+15Arrowhead Pride+15The Phinsider+15.
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Ultimately, neither Tennessee nor any other team traded for Burks before training camp; injuries and low trade value prevented a deal Bleeding Green Nation+2Music City Miracles+2New York Post+2.
6. Release and Future Outlook
July 2025 Waiver
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On July 28, 2025, the Titans waived Burks with an injury designation following a fractured collarbone in training camp. If unclaimed, he would revert to Tennessee’s IR list PaulKuharsky.com+5NFL.com+5New York Post+5.
Fifth‑Year Option Declined
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The Titans declined Burks’s fifth-year option in May 2025, avoiding over $15 million in guaranteed money for 2026. Decision strongly tied to his lack of production and health issues Music City Miracles.
Reputation & Legacy
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Burks’s NFL story is now a case study in draft risk, instructional failures in development, and the fallout on organizational trust—especially since Tennessee has won just 16 games since trading Brown, versus 32 with himOutKick.
7. PFF Insights & Performance Grades
Pro Football Focus data shows Burks had limited target volume, low separation metrics, and struggled to grade positively in coverage or contested catching—unusual for a first-round pick. His PFF profile indicates he failed to reach expected thresholds at WR in key graded categories across his career to date PFFPFF.
8. Conclusion
Treylon Burks’s journey—from being drafted to replace a franchise superstar, to netting less than 700 receiving yards and one touchdown over three seasons—serves as a powerful cautionary tale. His fully guaranteed rookie contract delivered financial security, but his performance led the Titans to move on decisively. As of mid‑2025, Burks is a waived/injured free agent and faces an uphill battle to resurrect his NFL career.