The selection of talent is not only about sporting aspects, but also about human aspects. Problems in this regard can cause a talent to fall

Sometimes talents fall like stones in the NFL Draft. Then they hurtle down the board. Because it happens that athletically strong prospects raise question marks about their character.

Like Jermaine Burton, for example.

“ProFootballNetwork” writes in its evaluation of the wide receiver: “Based purely on film, Burton is a top-64 candidate for the 2024 NFL Draft and one of the most underrated prospects in this class.”

The problem is question marks behind his character.

Burton began his college career in 2020 with the Georgia Bulldogs, where he totaled 901 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his first two seasons.

After winning the college championship with the Bulldogs in 2021, he transferred to the University of Alabama. With the Crimson Tide, he got a fresh start and was also given a bigger role in the offense. Over the next two years, Burton totaled 79 receptions for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Decent numbers. Still, there are doubts.

“The talent is there. It’s a matter of consistency on and off the field. He’s been to six schools in eight years. As one NFL scout put it, he was on the s*** list of both Georgia and Alabama coaches,” draft analyst Dane Brugler said on “The Athletic Football Show.” So from round one to three, anything seems possible. Possibly even lower, depending on what the interviews with him have shown.

Experience shows that character problems are a “red flag” for many general managers and teams, an important reason to pass on a talent.

However, it cannot be ruled out that a coach assumes that he will get the question marks cleared up. In this case, a fallen talent can also turn out to be a stroke of luck.