2026 NFL Draft Preview: Kentucky offensive lineman Jager Burton

The 2026 NFL Draft starts on Thursday at 8 P.M. ET on ESPN. We have already covered the draft projection of former Kentucky Wildcats offensive guard Jalen Farmer. Now, we will get into the Kentucky-native who played alongside Farmer, interior offensive lineman Jager Burton. Burton played center and guard for the Wildcats, and his position versatility makes it unclear which spot he will ultimately land at the next level.

Burton had his fair share of ups and downs at Kentucky, but the talent has always been there. At 6'3, 312-pounds, Burton moves well and has exceptional grip strength when he gets his hands in the right place on defensive linemen. However, he must limit penalties when transitioning to the NFL. At Kentucky, Burton was flagged often for holding calls as well as unnecessary roughness.

Burton showcased his ability at the NFL combine, he ran well with a 4.94 40-yard dash and put up 28 reps on the bench press. He had a solid broad jump and showed his short area movement skills with a 4.52 shuttle and a 7.54 three cone. A good mover and someone that has experience at different positions along the interior offensive line, Burton's skillset and makeup will peak some NFL teams interest. I personally believe he performed the best at center and that is the best natural fit for him at the next level.

According to the consensus big board, Burton comes in at 173 overall in the player rankings. He is projected to go in the 5th round of the draft. However, in Dane Brugler's recent seven round mock draft on The Athletic, he has Burton falling to the 7th round at pick 239 to the Chicago Bears. The Bears have one of the best offensive minds in the world in Head Coach Ben Johnson, so this would be an ideal landing spot for Burton.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky football NFL draft preview: Center Jager Burton