SHOULD THE JAGUARS PURSUE TREY BURTON?

Trey Burton (Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire)

The Bears released Trey Burton on Friday. Should the Jaguars have interest?

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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On Friday evening, the Bears released veteran tight end Trey Burton. The move came as no surprise, as Chicago had too many tight ends on their roster after signing Jimmy Graham this offseason. 

Burton missed much of 2019 with a calf injury and then underwent surgery late in the season due to a labrum ailment. He also missed the Bears' Wild Card Playoff matchup with the Eagles back in 2018 due to a sports hernia. 

Burton, 28 years old, originally signed a four-year contract with the Bears worth $32 million prior to the 2018 season. He was productive in 2018, hauling in 54 catches for 569 yards and six scores. 

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Before heading to Chicago, Burton had a mini break out with the Eagles in 2016 and 2017, catching a combined 60 passes as a role player in Philly. 

Due to the language of Burton's contract, he'll still get paid well by the Bears in 2020, making him a cheap and talented addition for whoever signs him.

Should the Jaguars pounce?

I believe they should, as long as he's still on schedule to be cleared for training camp after undergoing hip surgery to fix his labrum. Burton has proven an effective move tight end and can help a team in a variety of ways. With his history of success, Burton would add another dynamic playmaker for Jay Gruden and Gardner Minshew to work with. The Jaguars currently have Tyler Eifert, James O'Shaughnessy, and Josh Oliver as their top three tight ends heading into the 2020 season. Adding Burton would be a cost-effective insurance policy that could pay dividends even if the Jaguars' oft-injured tight ends stay relatively healthy in 2020. Butron has the ability to line up in-line, in the slot, and as an H-back. Having four tight ends that can effectively start would be a considerable upgrade for the Jaguars' offense and would give second-year QB Gardner Minshew a variety of reliable targets. Signing Burton, who is in the prime of his career, would come with little to no risk. 

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