North Carolina State forward DJ Burns Jr. is making headlines during the NCAA tournament, leading his team to the Elite Eight as an 11-seed. Despite not being considered a top NBA prospect, Burns is now being talked about as a potential NFL prospect, generating interest from scouts and general managers.
NFL Network’s Peter Schrager recently discussed the possibility of Burns transitioning to football with various NFL personnel, indicating that a football workout following the Final Four could draw a large turnout and potentially lead to financial opportunities. This report was confirmed as not an April Fools’ joke by Schrager himself. Jim Nagy, who organizes the Senior Bowl, also mentioned the real interest NFL teams have in Burns making the switch to football.
The idea of Burns transitioning to football may not be as far-fetched as it initially seems. Just last week, former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after attracting interest from multiple NFL teams despite never having played football before. Additionally, the Green Bay Packers currently have Kenneth Odumegwu on their roster, who transitioned from soccer to basketball before ultimately choosing to play football as a defensive lineman.
The NFL appears to be increasingly open to adding talent from non-traditional backgrounds, making the idea of Burns putting on a helmet for training camp this season a possibility that should not be dismissed.
