Deion Burks gives Chiefs another Oklahoma connection worth watching

Several NFL teams have gained a reputation for loving certain college programs. Lately, that's been the Philadelphia Eagles and Georgia. For a while, it seemed like the only players they drafted were former Bulldogs. The Chiefs are a sneaky team as they continue to be more and more interested in players and coaches with Oklahoma ties.

The Chiefs hired the Sooners running back coach DeMarco Murray this offseason to take over their running back coach position. As for the players, they currently have Creed Humphrey and Wanya Morris as former Sooners on the roster. They've also had Orlando Brown Jr. and Hollywood Brown as well. The Chiefs have also shown interest in other Sooners players in the draft such as Anton Harrison and Tyler Guyton.

The connection isn't quite as strong as the Eagles trying to reassemble the 2022 National Championship team, but there's certainly some smoke with the Chiefs and Norman, Oklahoma. Deion Burks is an underrated wide receiver prospect who has that Oklahoma connection and is also very Chiefs-like in how he wins.

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NFL Draft Profile: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma

1. Deion Burks's background
2. Deion Burks's strengths
3. Deion Burks's weaknesses
4. How does Deion Burks fit with the Chiefs?

Deion Burks's background

Age: 23 (on draft day)

Height: 5-9

Weight:180 LBS

Hands: 9 1/2 inches

Arms: 29 3/8 inches

Tape Exposure: Tennessee (2025), Alabama (2025) and Texas (2025)

Burks attended Belleville High School in Belleville, Michigan. He was a two-sport athlete; in addition to football, he was a sprinter in the 60m, 200m, and 400m dash in high school. Rated as a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports, he committed to Purdue in 2020. Burks redshirted his freshman year after appearing in just one game.

The following two seasons, Burks tallied 63 receptions for 804 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Boilermakers. He entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season and committed to Oklahoma. He battled injuries in 2024, only appearing in 5 games. In his redshirt senior year, he finished strong, including 7 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown against Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

Deion Burks's strengths

Athleticsm

26 reps bench (98th percentile), 42.5 vertical (98th percentile), 131" broad jump (92nd percentile), 1.49 10-yard (94%), 4.30 40-yard (97%). Reported to squat 540 lbs, bench 400 lbs, and clean 340 lbs. 9.25 RAS score. Ranked 50th on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List in 2024.

Yards after Catch

Very quick acceleration, shifty with the ball in his hands. Elite long speed. Dynamic on jet sweeps, dense and compact enough that he plays through contact well.

Route Runing

Very good feet, gets in and out of his breaks well. Has a natural feel for zones. Also very solid hands as a pass catcher and tracks the ball well down the field.

Deion Burks's weaknesses

Catch Point

Burks is just 5-8 combined, and when combined with a 3rd-percentile arm length, it makes him a frequent loser in contested catch scenarios. He's just not going to be able to play through contact consistently. Has to separate to win the ball.

Injuries

Has missed time in several seasons. Sustained soft-tissue injuries, a concussion, and a minor neck injury during the 2023 Citrus Bowl while at Purdue. Only played in 5 games in 2024.

Press Coverage

Will likely be limited to the slot mostly at the next level, struggles with longer physical corners that won't allow a free release. Needs to find better answers against man coverage besides athleticism.

How does Deion Burks fit with the Chiefs?

Small, shifty, fast, and a Sooner—he's essentially a dream prospect for the Chiefs at the receiver position. He's viewed as a fringe top-100 prospect. Since the news of Rashee Rice not being suspended came out, the Chiefs' need at receiver might not be as grave as it seems. Burks can work into the lineup and do some of the things Hollywood Brown was doing, and also take some gadget work from Worthy too. The Chiefs would at least have modest size with Rice, Royals, and Thornton, and then have Burks and Worthy as smaller speed threats. Essentially, a similar wide receiver room to what they had in 2025, but younger and more dynamic.

Burks is a dynamic playmaker with vertical speed and acceleration to consistently stress defenses deep, while offering versatility on manufactured touches and yards-after-catch opportunities. Shows strong ball tracking, reliable hands, spatial awareness, and disciplined route work, with the ability to separate using sharp footwork and tempo changes. However, inconsistencies in play speed, route selling, and physical limitations at the catch point can hinder his effectiveness, especially against longer, more physical defenders.

Round Grade: Grey Chip (Day 3 grade)

Shades of: Rondale Moore