Denzel Burke will likely be a late first-round pick and a first-year starter at cornerback. For any team that drafts him, he will be a project but has a high ceiling. Burke will probably be the fourth Buckeye drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft because of his high ceiling. Projections have him going as high as No. 8 to the Carolina Panthers or as low as No. 30 to the Buffalo Bills.
Expect him to get drafted in the middle of the first round. Jackson is a 6-foot-1, 193-pound cornerback from Arizona. Does your favorite NFL team have good enough coaching to turn a project into an All-Pro?
Denzel Burke’s Statistics
Denzel Burke was a 4-star recruit. In high school he showed his skills on both offense and defense, playing cornerback and wide receiver. Despite a season-ending shoulder injury in his senior year in high school, Burke was recruited by Ohio State.
Burke immediately made an impact at Ohio State, becoming the first freshman to start on defense since 1996. He made a positive impact in each of his first three years as a Buckeye. As a freshman, he got 37 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and an interception over 12 games. His sophomore year saw him play just 11 games, making 34 tackles with 5 pass breakups.
During his junior year, Burke played 10 games, adding 24 tackles, 8 pass breakups, and another interception. His senior year was fine from a metrics standpoint. He had 48 tackles, 2 pass breakup, and two more interceptions, At times during his career, he struggled and was beaten badly.
Burke received numerous accolades during his college career. He earned Freshman All-American, and third-team Big Ten honors in 2021. He was first-team All-Big Ten in 2023. With 71 total tackles, two interceptions, one defensive touchdown, and 26 pass breakups over his first three seasons, he established himself as a key player in the Ohio State secondary.
Strengths
Burke has a very high ceiling at the NFL level. Particularly if a team coaches him correctly. Here are his strengths, according to NFL Draft Buzz.
- Shows excellent ball skills, capable of high-pointing and disrupting passes with good timing and hand coordination,
- Possesses a smooth backpedal with quick feet, allowing for rapid transitions and effective mirroring of receivers,
- Demonstrates great quickness and burst when closing on ball carriers and in coverage situations,
- Fluid hips and good lateral movement enable him to stay with receivers through their routes effectively,
- Displays strong play recognition and awareness in both run and pass situations, contributing to overall defensive support,
- Effective in press coverage, using length and physicality to disrupt routes early,
- Combines length, speed, and agility, making him versatile in both man and zone coverages,
- Brings a competitive edge and willingness to support in run defense, showcasing physicality despite not being the most dynamic tackler.
There is a significant history of Ohio State defensive backs getting drafted by the NFL and doing well. Burke hopes to take advantage of that phenomenon.
Weaknesses
Burk was beaten badly several times this season and probably cost himself some money despite an otherwise impeccable resumé. His lack of top end speed in a problem. Here are weaknesses according to NFL Draft Buzz.
- Long speed, while decent is not elite. He will struggle against the speedier pro receivers – especially in deep man coverage,
- Needs to improve footwork to avoid getting sloppy in transitions and closing on the ball,
- Occasionally overextends and grabs, risking penalties in tight coverage situations,
- Lacks elite hip fluidity, which can hinder recovery against quicker, more agile receivers,
- Struggles with securing tackles consistently, often opting for less reliable methods,
- Not overly physical in tackles, needing to add strength to enhance physicality at the next level.
Conclusion
Burke is a high-ceiling project in the NFL. It would be a good idea for an NFL team with a need in the defensive secondary to take a first-round flyer on this talent. He could easily recapture the magic of his first three years at Ohio State.
