jermaine burton is getting another shot, with the Bills inviting him to work out at rookie minicamp. The move gives the 24-year-old former Bengals third-round pick a chance to show he can still help an NFL roster, after Cincinnati waived him in December. The invitation was first disclosed on April 26 ET and puts Jermaine Burton back in the conversation as he tries to restart his career.
Jermaine Burton gets a fresh opening in Buffalo
Jordan Schultz reported that the Bills accepted Burton into their rookie minicamp. That invitation matters because it is not a contract or a guaranteed roster spot, but it does give Jermaine Burton a direct path to make an impression in front of Buffalo’s coaches and front office.
The timing is notable. Burton was cut after two seasons with the Bengals, and he did not appear in a game in 2025. His chance with Buffalo now comes after a difficult stretch in Cincinnati, where his role faded and the team eventually moved on.
Burton entered the league as a third-round pick in 2024 and played 14 games as a rookie, making one start. He caught four passes on 14 targets for 107 yards that season. Those numbers frame the challenge in front of him: he is still young enough to draw another look, but he has to prove he can deliver more consistent production.
Why the Bills are taking a look at Jermaine Burton
The Bills’ decision appears to be about upside and availability. Jermaine Burton is only 24, and Buffalo is using rookie minicamp to evaluate a player who once came with clear draft pedigree. That does not guarantee anything beyond the workout window, but it does keep his NFL path alive.
Buffalo has not committed beyond the invitation, and nothing in the current situation changes that. Still, for a player coming off a waiver and a season without an appearance, any chance to be seen in a structured setting is significant.
Jermaine Burton’s college and draft background explains why teams continue to take interest. He was selected by Cincinnati in the third round after entering the league with expectations that he could develop into a useful receiver. The Bills are now the latest team to test whether that promise can still be unlocked.
Jermaine Burton and the Bengals’ decision to move on
Burton’s time in Cincinnati ended after repeated issues with his former club, and the Bengals waived him in December. The team had invested in him as a third-round pick, but his stay never settled into a steady role.
That context makes the Buffalo workout a notable turning point. For Jermaine Burton, the focus shifts from what went wrong in Cincinnati to whether a new setting can produce a different result.
What comes next for Jermaine Burton
The next step is straightforward: Jermaine Burton will try to stand out at rookie minicamp and make the Bills think harder about his fit. If he performs well, the conversation can move forward; if not, the workout will stand as another short-term chance in a career still searching for traction. Either way, Jermaine Burton now has a real opening to change the narrative.
