When the Tennessee Titans decided to decline the fifth-year option on wide receiver Treylon Burks’ rookie contract, he sensed his time in the Volunteer State would soon be up. The former Arkansas Razorback pick didn’t think he’d be looking for a new team until he became a free agent in 2026.
Instead, Burks was waived by Tennessee on Oct. 7 after suffering a fractured collarbone while making a diving, one-handed catch at training camp in July.
The search for his next NFL team started sooner than he had thought, and Burks didn’t know what to expect when he arrived at BigBear.ai Performance Center for a workout on Oct. 15. Although visiting with the Commanders wasn’t his first workout, the free agent experience marked the first time Burks was trying out for an NFL team since he had participated in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine as a draft prospect.
“It was definitely different, just never going through that type of process before, but I believed in my abilities and God, and it went well,” Burks said.
Burks put his best foot forward in every workout he attended. He ultimately ended up with a couple offers from NFL teams, and in choosing his next team, Burks prioritized feeling appreciated by the organization. No matter where he went, Burks wanted a team to want him as much as he wanted them.
Burks felt valued by the Commanders during his visit and ultimately decided to sign with Washington’s practice squad because he felt they had chosen him just as he had chosen them.
“I pride myself on who wants me and who shows interest in me, and obviously Washington showed the most interest and I just feel like they knew my situation and have given me an opportunity to be here and so I can do nothing but just go out and play my best,” Burks said.
