Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton will not play in the team’s must-win matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which means he may have played his last game with the club. Based on raw talent alone, Burton had all the traits and production to be a first-round pick in a loaded wide receiver class. However, off-field issues, including punching a fan after a loss, caused him to fall into the third round. The Bengals took a risk on the talented but troubled playmaker, and they probably wish they hadn’t.
Despite having star wide receiver Tee Higgins miss multiple contests, Jermaine Burton has been unable to do much for the Bengals. The rookie has recorded just four receptions for 107 yards in 14 games and is now a healthy scratch heading into the regular season finale. With the wide receiver also facing eviction from his landlord, Cincinnati could decide that enough is enough and trade the Alabama product for whatever they can get. While he won’t fetch a large return, a team like the Saints or Chiefs could send a conditional late-round pick for his services.
Jermaine Burton Could Be Done With Bengals, Land With Chiefs, Saints
Kansas City’s interest in Jermaine Burton will depend on what happens in free agency. Right now, the team has three reliable wideouts in first-round pick Xavier Worthy and veterans Marquise Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. They also have Rashee Rice on the sidelines, who should be fully healthy for 2025. Kansas City won’t need another receiver if most of these players return for the upcoming season.
However, that is a big ‘if’. While Worthy isn’t going anywhere, Brown and Hopkins are both free agents and could leave for greener pastures. Rice, meanwhile, has yet to face league discipline for his role in the offseason car crash and will likely miss a sizable portion of the 2025 season. With star tight end Travis Kelce possibly retiring, the Chiefs could use some more insurance at wide receiver. Jermaine Burton is anything but a safe bet, but the Chiefs have shown a willingness to take character risks with the position in the past.
More Help In New Orleans
The Saints will have a new head coach on the sidelines in 2025, but their team-building process will remain the same as long as General Manager Mickey Loomis is calling the shots. New Orleans lacks the spending money to fix a flawed roster but refuses to embrace a rebuild, which means they must gamble on low-risk, high-reward players. Jermaine Burton fits that description to a tee and could be a smart add if the Bengals are willing to trade him for a late-round pick.
Assuming Chris Olave returns, he and deep threat Rashid Shaheed will form a reliable starting duo. However, Olave has hinted at a possible trade, and Derek Carr cannot guide this team to the playoffs without adequate support. Jermaine Burton may not work out in New Orleans, but it shouldn’t cost more than a seventh-round pick to secure his services.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – USA Today Sports
