A massive trade for the Tennessee Titans in 2022 went absolutely nowhere. They lost their best player, A.J. Brown, for Treylon Burks and a few other players in return. Fans were shocked when the trade went down, but now they’re even more shocked looking back on it.
Burks hasn’t had an easy go in the NFL. Injuries have held him back, and the team ultimately decided it was time to move on. Having drafted a few players and landing the likes of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett, Cam Ward is in a fantastic position to succeed in 2025.
NBC Sports’ Chris Simms and Mike Florio Feel for Treylon Burks
With three 4th round picks in the 2025 draft, Tennessee used picks No. 103 and 136 to grab a few more receivers. Burks hadn’t made much of an impact in his short time on the team, but Chris Simms and Mike Florio knew he was put in an impossible position.
“They traded AJ Brown while the pick was on the clock for the Eagles. The Titans get their pick, they take Treylon Burks to replace AJ Brown. That wasn’t fair to Burks from the get-go,” Florio said. “You’re expecting him to be AJ Brown right out of the gates.”
Simms responded, “It stinks. I feel for the kid. You’re right, he had a ton of pressure on him. That’s the Titans fault for that. We’re going to get rid of the best player on our football team to bring you in, and we expect you to be the best player. No, that certainly didn’t happen.”
“It’s been a tough go for him. It certainly has I’m not shocked to see them release him. I think they’re got another receiver, they’ve seen enough of Treylon Burks,” Simms added.
A Pair of Rookies Look to Make an Impact
Looking at the Titans roster, the talent is there. On paper, this does not look like a team that should only win three games. Will Levis is undergoing season ending surgery, leaving the state of the franchise in Ward’s hands. Yet another rookie quarterback is stepping up to the plate, with Ward looking to stick the landing.
“I’m intrigued by the two guys they drafted,” Simms said. “Chimere Dike, who can fly out of Florida. One of those guys where I think he could surprise people and come out of nowhere. Elic Ayomanor from Stanford was a player that I loved coming out of the draft too.”
Simms continued, “I’m sure they saw enough from them to go, ‘Wait, they’re going to contribute enough to our team that makes Treylon Burks even more expendable’.”
Dike was selected at No. 103, making him the first offensive player other than Ward the Titans selected. Tennessee used all three of their fourth round picks on offense, finishing with Ayomanor at No. 136.
As Simms mentioned, Dike is known for his speed. The 22-year-old began his career in Wisconsin before finishing his five-year career in Florida. He tallied a career high 783 receiving yards in 2024.
Ayomanor saw a decrease in his yards per reception from 2023 to 2024. As a rookie, he tallied 1,013 receiving yards on 62 receptions. The following season, he finished with 63 receptions for 831 yards. The Stanford graduate had a 97 yard catch and run in 2023 as he finished each season with six touchdowns.
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