Jager Burton

No. 52 · Rookie

A fifth-round pick, and the Packers' coach already sees a starter

Most rookies drafted in the fifth round arrive with one job: prove they belong. The timeline for that is usually measured in years, not weeks.

Jager Burton plays guard on the offensive line — the position responsible for protecting the quarterback and opening lanes for the running back. It's a role that typically takes time to learn at the NFL level, where the players across the line are faster and stronger than anything a college season prepares you for. Burton is a first-year player. The Packers took him in the fifth round, which is late enough that teams usually aren't counting on much.

Matt LaFleur, Green Bay's head coach, seems to be counting on something. LaFleur has said publicly that Burton has a real shot at contributing to the offensive line right away — not as a project, but as someone who can compete for real playing time this season.

For a fifth-round pick, that kind of early belief from the head coach isn't nothing. It doesn't guarantee a spot, but it opens a door that doesn't always open this fast.

Now Burton has to walk through it.

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