Could Treylon Burks Be This Year’s Ja’Marr Chase for the Titans?

In 2021, Ja’Marr Chase bounced back from a terrible preseason – when people thought he forgot how to catch the ball – to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was one of the most explosive players last season, instantly jumping to No. 1 on the depth chart and solidifying his name amongst the best wide receivers in the league. 

It seems like a rookie receiver jumps onto the scene in a major way every season, but who is that going to be this year? One option that could enter the discussion is Treylon Burks with the Tennessee Titans. 

Burks is currently listed as the No. 2 option behind Robert Woods, but the latter comes off an ACL injury and is 30 years old. He is not locked into the top spot, so there is an opening for Burks to come in and be the star of the offense. 

The Titans passing offense is in the midst of major turnover. A.J. Brown is now on the Philadelphia Eagles, and Julio Jones is a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Burks – who had over 1,100 yards last season at Arkansas – is in prime position to get targets and opportunities to make plays. 

One issue that people may have with Burks being the “breakout receiver” is the fact that Derrick Henry is still in the backfield. Henry is obviously going to be the focal point for the offense, but after a season-ending injury last year, the Titans will likely scale back how often they go to Henry in order to keep him on the field. 

DraftKings currently has Burks’ odds to lead all rookies in receiving yards at +1000, fifth on the list. There aren’t going to be many rookies ahead of him that either have a better spot on the depth chart or a better overall situation. 

Burks has a lot going for him, so even if Rookie of the Year is a stretch, don’t be surprised if he’s heavily in the conversation.