Green Bay Packers: 5 potential cut or trade candidates in 2021

3. Oren Burks, LB

Like Jace Sternberger, Oren Burks is a former third-round pick (88th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft) who has struggled to find his way in Green Bay.

The former Vanderbilt star was considered a potential value pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2018 NFL Draft but he’s proven to be more of a bust than a value at this point as a top-100 selection.

Last season, his third in the NFL, Burks played just 96 defensive snaps for the Packers. Although he’s played a substantial amount of special teams in his three seasons with the Packers, the team obviously expected a lot more out of a third-round draft choice.

Burks, once upon a time, lit up the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.59 in the 40-yard dash, a 39.5-inch vertical jump, and a stellar 6.82 three-cone drill. Athleticism and speed are of no concern here, but entering his fourth season, Burks’ primary value to the Packers is on special teams.

There’s certainly value there, but if the team likes the upside of some of the younger guys they have brought in through the draft with more years on their contracts, they might try to trade Burks to a team that feels they can maximize his talent or use him as special teams and defensive depth right away.