Serious interest developing in NC State March Madness Star DJ Burns playing LT in NFL

[Big Turk]

Wouldn't be the first College Basketball star to transition to the NFL...

 

Usually they end up at TE tho like Antonio Gates or Jimmy Graham or Tony Gonzalez...not sure I've ever heard of one becoming a left tackle before...

 

6'9" 275 lbs currently and his body is huge and could easily support 320+ lbs with likely little loss of mobility...

 

He has gotten the attention of NFL scouts, people in college personnel roles and GMs big time apparently with his performance at the tournament...dude looks like a ballerina in the low post.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nc-state-basketball-star-dj-burns-generating-nfl-interest-as-wolfpack-make-final-four-run/amp/

Edited April 2 by Big Turk

[Buffalo716]

Yea people are curious

 

But it's gonna be a 3-4 year development at least if it did work 

 

Not many teams have 4 years to develop a PS level guy 

 

I wouldn't waste a draft pick on him but would ask him to TC

[Charles Romes]

VanDemark was a 6’6 225 pound volleyball player his senior year of high school. 

[Cray51]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yea people are curious

 

But it's gonna be a 3-4 year development at least if it did work 

 

Not many teams have 4 years to develop a PS level guy 

 

I wouldn't waste a draft pick on him but would ask him to TC

IF he has interest, he would need to bulk up another 40-50 pounds, and show he has upper body strength to match his light feet.

 

As you mentioned, that's at least 2 years before you even have a bottom of the roster guy.  Another 1-2 for any chance at playing time

[BuffaloBillyG]

2 minutes ago, Charles Romes said:

VanDemark was a 6’6 225 pound volleyball player his senior year of high school. 

He was also about 3'2 and 50lbs during is modeling days.

[Brand J]

I remember Jonathan Ogden was famously tall at 6’9”. Don’t remember other tackles that height dominating. It’s easier for smaller players to get leverage against them - unless he’s powerful. If I were him I’d try to get in contact with Ogden if he doesn’t have a future as an NBA starter. 

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, Big Turk said:

Wouldn't be the first College Basketball star to transition to the NFL...

 

Usually they end up at TE tho like Antonio Gates or Jimmy Graham or Tony Gonzalez...not sure I've ever heard of one becoming a left tackle before...

 

6'9" 275 lbs currently and his body is huge and could easily support 320+ lbs with likely little loss of mobility...

 

He has gotten the attention of NFL scouts, people in college personnel roles and GMs big time apparently with his performance at the tournament...dude looks like a ballerina in the low post.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nc-state-basketball-star-dj-burns-generating-nfl-interest-as-wolfpack-make-final-four-run/amp/

 

26 minutes ago, Cray51 said:

IF he has interest, he would need to bulk up another 40-50 pounds, and show he has upper body strength to match his light feet.

 

As you mentioned, that's at least 2 years before you even have a bottom of the roster guy.  Another 1-2 for any chance at playing time

 

 

there is no chance he is under 300 lbs right now.  Zero.

[Irv]

The guy looks unstoppable.  Why not just play in the NBA.  Who needs the knee injuries and concussions?  

[Saint Doug]

6 minutes ago, Irv said:

The guy looks unstoppable.  Why not just play in the NBA.  Who needs the knee injuries and concussions?  

Agreed. Very weird development. Stay a bb player. Less injuries, no CTE, higher salaries. 

[Buffalo716]

15 minutes ago, Irv said:

The guy looks unstoppable.  Why not just play in the NBA.  Who needs the knee injuries and concussions?  

Because it's the hardest sport in the world to get drafted

 

It's only 60 players around the world...

 

He might be a late second round pick... But more than likely he's undrafted

 

He could have a great career in Europe .. but he's not tall enough or explosive enough for the NBA.. he would have a lot to work on

 

 

[Cray51]

34 minutes ago, Brand J said:

I remember Jonathan Ogden was famously tall at 6’9”. Don’t remember other tackles that height dominating. It’s easier for smaller players to get leverage against them - unless he’s powerful. If I were him I’d try to get in contact with Ogden if he doesn’t have a future as an NBA starter. 

Spencer Brown is 6'9.  

[Warcodered]

55 minutes ago, Charles Romes said:

VanDemark was a 6’6 225 pound volleyball player his senior year of high school. 

I can see a guy doing that from High School to College to the NFL, College-NFL makes far less sense especially at the O-line so he's going to put on all that weight and suddenly start smashing into people on every play at an NFL level?

[BigAl2526]

I'm a bit wary of real tall offensive tackles.  It's hard for them to get low enough and match quickness with really quick, bendy defensive ends. 

[Matt_In_NH]

I totally thought watching that game that he is playing the wrong sport.

[TheBeaneBandit]

3 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yea people are curious

 

But it's gonna be a 3-4 year development at least if it did work 

 

Not many teams have 4 years to develop a PS level guy 

 

I wouldn't waste a draft pick on him but would ask him to TC

IDK if he's still there in the 6th or 7th round why not. If there was a way to not waste a roster spot for a couple years it might be worth looking into. I think after a couple years you'd have a good idea if the development could pan out then you'd still have a couple years for him to backup Dawkins. How many 6th or 7th round picks turn out anyways??? Bonus kick to to dk for the first guy to mention Brady😂😆😂

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Every tournament there’s a large basketball player people think can play in the NFL.

[billsfan89]

I think it would be an interesting project to bring him in and see if you can "redshirt" him for a two years on the PS and then see if he can develop. I feel like the NFL should let each team have two additional PS slots for developmental players. I think allowing teams to have an extra 17th and 18th PS slots for developmental players that kind of work outside the normal PS rules would work wonders for athletes from other sports attempting to come into the league. Spitballing but I think it could look like. 

 

1. Only an un-drafted player with no NFL experience can sign the deal.  
2. During those two years the player's slot cannot be taken by another player, if you sign a player to a developmental deal for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and you cut them you aren't able to use that slot again until 2026. 
3. After those two years the team has to release you or sign you to their training camp roster. After those two years you are now subject to the regular rules regarding Practice Squad and NFL rosters.
4. A player can only sign one developmental deal during their careers. 
5. Other teams cannot claim the developmental player on waivers during the duration of their developmental contract. 
6. Developmental players cannot be elevated to the roster during the duration of their developmental contract (thus players have to assess if its worth it to not make a roster for two years and if they should take the deal.)

I think this would greatly improve the quality of NFL players as it would allow athletes from other sports or athletes with more limited American football experience a pathway into the NFL. It would take advantage of each NFL team's infrastructure and allow them to be mini development factories for these uber raw prospects. 

 

Each team can take two players and give them two full off-seasons of training and development and the chance to practice with the team for two seasons and then get brought into a third off-season where they can develop some more and then come in as a training camp participant and get a chance to make the roster outright or get put on the actual PS. 

Edited April 2 by billsfan89

[Captain Hindsight]

Announcers everyone hoping to be able to say “Former final 4 participant” every broadcast. 
 

[Mikie2times]

His footwork is pretty elite for a person his size. His attitude is supposed to also be pretty elite as well. Good luck to the kid. NBA is almost impossible especially for him when such a big part of his game is physicality. 

[Warcodered]

This sounds more like a great reason for the UFL to exist, better try learning to block their than the NFL.