Jermaine Burton to Bengals in NFL draft: Instant grade, analysis, stats for 80th pick

The Cincinnati Bengals turned their focus in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft to providing franchise quarterback Joe Burrow with another weapon, picking Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton with the 80th overall pick. Burton comes to the Bengals amid a transition period for the wide receiver group that helped lead Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI. Tyler Boyd is a free agent, and Tee Higgins wants to be traded. Here's our instant draft grade of the pick and our rapid analysis of the pick.

Alabama WR Jermaine Burton to Bengals NFL draft grade: Instant reaction

Grade: C

Why: No issues with the Bengals taking a wide receiver here, given Boyd’s exit and that Higgins will be gone after the 2024 season. Cincinnati needs someone to be its No. 3 receiver, and it's Burton's job for the taking.

But Burton brings some baggage with him to Cincinnati, and that significantly hurts this grade. He’s been dogged by an incident in October 2022, when he allegedly punched a woman as Tennessee fans rushed the field after the Volunteers defeated Alabama in Knoxville. The University of Alabama investigated.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Burton apologized more than two months later. “The whole situation, it was a mistake,” he said. “I can’t hold that against myself forever. But a mistake is a mistake. You move past it.”

Burton may very well have moved past it and is ready to be a model citizen in the NFL. He certainly deserved to be drafted, but is Cincinnati the right fit? The Bengals have been preaching in recent years about the importance of having high-character guys in their locker room, and they finally moved on from troubled running back Joe Mixon this offseason.

On the field, Burton could develop into Higgins’ replacement on the outside. He led Alabama in receiving the last two seasons and is a big-play threat. Burton led the SEC with 20.5 yards per catch. He’s not known as a great route runner.

In Cincinnati, Burton will be surrounded by good players and good guys. Maybe a year with Burrow, Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase will be good for the rookie.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Grading Bengals pick of Jermaine Burton at No. 80: NFL draft 2024