How Do the Raiders Plan to Use a Versatile Amari Burney?
Amari Burney was a quality draft pick for the Las Vegas Raiders, whom they acquired in the sixth round of this year's draft.
Burney had experience playing both defensive back and linebacker for the Florida Gators, but he primarily served as a linebacker.
That is how the Raiders viewed the prospect when they selected him with the No. 203rd overall pick, but the versatility is valued.
“Yeah, we think he's a linebacker," General Manager Dave Ziegler told the media on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. "He started as a safety, and played linebacker at Florida this year. That's a transition that's not super easy to make, just your line of vision and how you see the game from a safety position to a linebacker position. Obviously, it's a lot quicker reaction from the linebacker spot. We thought he's done a really good job over his career developing as a linebacker. He does also have that coverage ability that you kind of see that safety background. I think in college; sometimes they line those guys up to make them play a little bit more man coverage. You don't see a lot of linebackers in the pros play-man coverage anymore. Obviously, you do it a little bit in cover one.
"One of the things we look at when we're watching linebackers at the pro level or college level is their ability to close space and zone because that's really what they're asked to do more than anything else is drop into zone and close space, and he could do that. He also had a couple of good plays playing tight ends and things like that down the seam.
"So I think he's a versatile guy who is still growing. Impeccable traits; was one of the most highly thought of guys there at that Florida program. We went down there for the Pro Day this year, myself and Champ [Kelly] were down there and got to see him in person. He ran a 4.51. Some clocks, they had him at a 4.48/4.49, so he's a kid who can run. We're excited about the athleticism that he brings and excited about the mentality that he brings too.”
Here is a complete list of every 2023 Raiders draft pick and links to more information about them:
Round 1 No. 7 overall pick: Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
Round 2 No. 35 overall pick: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Round 3 No. 70 overall: Byron Young, DT, Alabama
Round 3 No. 100 overall: Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati
Round 4 No. 104 overall: Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
Round 4 No. 135 overall: Aidan O'Connell, QB, Purdue
Round 5 No. 170 overall: Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia
Round 6 No. 203 overall: Amari Burney, LB, Florida
Round 7 No. 231 overall: Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State
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