Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: CB Artie Burns - Veteran Insurance Policy

Despite losing his starting job in training camp and only playing in three games for the team in 2022, the Seattle Seahawks welcomed Artie Burns back to town during their offseason program and granted him another chance to compete for a roster spot.

Author:
Corbin K. Smith
Publish date:
Jun 25, 2023 4:51 PM EDT

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to June and offseason activities wrapping up league-wide, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than two months, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, we'll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Artie Burns, Cornerback

Height/Weight: 6-0, 187 pounds

2022 Stats: No Stats

Jumping into the league as a first-round pick out of Miami, Burns started 32 games in four seasons with the Steelers, intercepting four passes while allowing 15 touchdowns in coverage. Given his inconsistency and struggles, the franchise allowed him to walk in free agency and he joined the Bears, unfortunately suffering a torn ACL during a training camp practice and missing the entire 2020 season. Playing improved ball upon his return the following season, he produced five pass breakups and allowed only one touchdown in six starts, turning the audition into a one-year contract with the Seahawks the following March to reunite with assistant coach Sean Desai.

Though Burns' tenure with Seattle got off to a quality start with him making several nice plays in coverage against star receiver DK Metcalf early in training camp, a strained hamstring landed him on the shelf shortly before the first preseason game and rookie Tariq Woolen took advantage, stealing the starting right cornerback job from underneath the veteran. Struggling to get healthy, he didn't make his team debut until Week 5 and ultimately only played in three games with no statistics. With Woolen undergoing minor surgery in May, the team brought him back on a one-year deal.

Best-Case Scenario: Recapturing his stellar play from the 2021 season with Woolen slowly working back from surgery and standing out on special teams in preseason games, Burns manages to secure a sixth cornerback spot on Seattle's 53-man roster, giving the team extra experience on the depth chart behind a young, talented nucleus at the position.

Worst-Case Scenario: Following the addition of Devon Witherspoon and return of a healthy Tre Brown, the Seahawks don't have an open spot for Burns in a loaded cornerback group and despite playing well with the third-team defense in exhibition games, the team releases him in final cuts and he has to wait for his next opportunity elsewhere.

What to Expect in 2023: With news of his impending re-signing coming shortly before Woolen's surgery was revealed, some wondered why the Seahawks were bringing back Burns, who didn't even register a single tackle for the team last season. But with him only being 29 years old, offering length the team covets on the outside, and having ample special teams experience, his return makes sense on multiple fronts simply to add to the competition.

Unlike a year ago when he initially had an opportunity to earn a starting job, barring injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, Burns will have to prove himself as a vital special teams asset to have a shot at hanging around past the conclusion of training camp. But with him being familiar with the scheme and having nearly 40 career starts under his belt, even if he isn't able to make the initial 53, he would provide invaluable insurance on the practice squad to safeguard against injuries in the secondary during the season and there's a good chance he will be with the team in the capacity come September unless another team comes calling.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Profiles