Those paying close attention to the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament during March Madness have surely noticed NC State Wolfpack’s D.J. Burns Jr. At 6-foot-9 and 275 pounds, he’s hard to miss.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Burns has been dominant as of late, helping 11th-seeded NC State defeat Duke, the four-seed, while scoring 29 points to reach the Final Four. That type of performance will get you on a lot of radars, apparently even the NFL.
According to Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, multiple NFL decision-makers are intrigued with the idea of converting Burns from a basketball sensation to a pro football player.
Got texts from a GM, Ass't GM, and college director within an hour of posting this on Friday night. NFL interest in D.J. Burns is a real thing. https://t.co/lqk77d0Kx1
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 1, 2024
Spoke to and texted multiple scouts/GMs about NC State big man DJ Burns as an NFL OT prospect over the last 24 hours.He is listed at 6’9, but probably is 6’7. A+ footwork. Would get big turnout & potentially $ if he participated in a Pro Day/workout the week after the Final 4. pic.twitter.com/zxyufktHeC
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 1, 2024
While Burns’ dream is to continue pursuing his goal of reaching the NBA, he’s not currently viewed as a top draft prospect. Of course, his recent stretch is undoubtedly causing scouts to take a closer look at Burns’ film, but if he’s not able to accomplish his NBA goals, the NFL could come calling.
Burns has not played football since middle school, where he was employed as a defensive end and tight end, but that doesn’t he couldn’t make the transition. While the lack of experience is an obvious red flag, others have made the jump from basketball to the NFL, such as Antonio Gates, and several others. Who knows? Burns could become the latest.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft: Raiders, Vikings land QBs as part of Round 1 trades