153 - Jager Burton - C - Kentucky

[Joemailman]

Jager Burton - C - Kentucky

Overview

Durable fifth-year senior who has made 47 consecutive starts. Burton is built to play center but could offer swing potential at guard. He has adequate play strength and good quickness for a zone-blocking scheme. He gets beaten to first contact by length and will struggle to put up a sustained fight against two-gappers at the point. He can slow a bull rush but needs to do a better job of protecting his edges and operating with consistent posture. Burton’s best fit will be with a zone-heavy running game as a late draft pick or undrafted free agent signee.

Strengths

• Hits NFL marks for measurables at his position.
• Wins the lateral race to his zone landmarks.
• Climbs quickly with athletic adjustments in space.
• Uses core power and grip strength to secure his blocks.
• Alters punch timing and approach, using independent hands.
• Adequate anchor drop to slow bull rushers when tested.

Weaknesses

• Weight gets too far forward as a run blocker.
• Pressed and pulled aside by two-gappers.
• Gets beaten into the frame more than he wins.
• Ducks helmet into contact with pass rushers.
• Has troubling redirecting long rushers off his edge.

I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
They're going to hear from me - Leonard Cohen

[Joemailman]

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[Joemailman]

Rob Demovsky:
Round 5, No. 153 overall: Jager Burton, C, Kentucky


My take: The Packers starting five is set up front, barring injury or a surprising drop-off in performance during training camp and the preseason, but after all the injuries they experienced on the offensive line last season -- losing Elgton Jenkins and playing several games without Zach Tom and Aaron Banks -- improved depth is critical. Burton started every game last season at center but also has made starts at both guard spots in college.

"He's really, truly versatile," Packers director of college scouting Matt Malaspina said. "He played well at guard, he played well at center, it wasn't that hard to figure out." While the Packers re-signed Sean Rhyan to play center, the Packers have done well developing mid- and late-round picks on the offensive line, and they should have time to bring Burton along.

[MadScientist]

Sounds like the kind of mid-round OL prospect that the Packers have had decent success developing in the past. Hopefully, that will continue with Burton.

[Joemailman]

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Burton is a good-looking athlete for his size, with foot quickness as a pass blocker and range in the run game. However, he isn’t a true mauler who plays up to his size or knocks defenders back on contact. The biggest wild card for his NFL transition is the consistency of his confidence and calls/adjustments. Overall, Burton needs to continue developing his sustain skills and the mental aspects of the position, but he is a quick-win blocker with position flexibility across the interior. He offers intriguing value for zone-based schemes on Day 3. Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com


Durable fifth-year senior who has made 47 consecutive starts. Burton is built to play center but could offer swing potential at guard. He has adequate play strength and good quickness for a zone-blocking scheme. He gets beaten to first contact by length and will struggle to put up a sustained fight against two-gappers at the point. He can slow a bull rush but needs to do a better job of protecting his edges and operating with consistent posture. Burton’s best fit will be with a zone-heavy running game as a late draft pick or undrafted free agent signee.

Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report

Jager Burton is a quick-twitch center prospect who excels reaching landmarks on combo blocks, reaches, pulls and climbs. However, limited play strength and sturdiness create inconsistent contact balance, often compromising his posture and leaving him vulnerable to being pried open when isolated. His positional versatility and movement skills project best to a swing interior backup role in the NFL.

[Joemailman]

[MadtownPacker]

We won’t know if we like him until he takes out a dirty bear trying to injure Love.

[Fritz]

Good point there, Mad. They need boldies on that line and they got one. But who's the backup LT going to be?

[Joemailman]

Good point there, Mad. They need boldies on that line and they got one. But who's the backup LT going to be?

Probably a battle between Travis Glover (who missed all of last year with an injury) and Darian Kinnard. Kinnard started 4 games last year, I believe all at RT.

[bobblehead]

We won’t know if we like him until he takes out a dirty bear trying to injure Love.

Exactly. First the dentist needs to injure Caleb, then Jagermeister needs to injure that sorry excuse for a felon, Aaron Brooks.

I was meh on our first 2 picks (I don't hate either pick, but they don't excite me). But between the dentist and this guy I'm jacked. Burton reminds me of Barton. Wait, did gutes actually draft a real interior lineman instead of trying to convert a tackle? I'm going to predict he should be our starting center by game 5 but we'll be lucky if he is starting by the playoffs.

I've cried about the OL, but its shaping up with this pick and a hopeful return to health for John Williams. I still think we need to be aggressive replacing Rhyan if this kid pans out like his college tape, but we at least have some potential. Signing Banks is going to look like the worst move in 20 years if he doesn't ball out this season though. I could see a scenario where the 2027 OL is Morgan, Williams, Jager, Belton, Tom.....but that means this year it will be Morgan, Banks, Rhyan, ???? (belton likely) and Tom.

[bobblehead]

Probably a battle between Travis Glover (who missed all of last year with an injury) and Darian Kinnard. Kinnard started 4 games last year, I believe all at RT.

I'm leaning more like Williams and Belton will cross train with one of them winning the RG spot and the other being the swing tackle. To me, Williams could be a really good ZBS guard.

[George Cumby]

Highlights look good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alDb0QDyp0I

[Fritz]

I'm leaning more like Williams and Belton will cross train with one of them winning the RG spot and the other being the swing tackle. To me, Williams could be a really good ZBS guard.

If Belton was originally drafted as a tackle, which I think he was, I'd train him as a LT and give Williams reps in training camp at RG. See if he can steal that job. Then I'd give Jager Meister reps at LG and center. Monk is on notice now.

[pbmax]

Bookmarking all these posts when the inevitable complaints come rolling in during the season for moving OL around for training purposes.

[Fritz]

Don't be holding me accountable, PB! I reserve the right to pretend I always thought what I am thinking at this moment.