The Indianapolis Colts' seventh-round pick, wide receiver Deion Burks, has been highlighted by multiple draft experts as a top bargain in the 2026 NFL Draft. This follows the team's strategy of selecting players later than expected for better value.
Key points
Deion Burks was picked 254th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Draft experts consider Burks one of the greatest bargains of the draft.
The Colts selected players later than expected for better value.
CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy were also selected later than many anticipated.
Mentioned in this story
Todd McShayDaniel JeremiahDane Brugler
2026 NFL DraftIndianapolis ColtsDeion Burks
Colts' Late-Round Pick Named A Favorite By Multiple Draft Experts
McShay and Jeremiah both listed a pick in each round as their favorite, and Burks to the Colts was both of their picks for Round 7. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic compared the rankings of each player in Brugler's annual draft guide, "The Beast," versus where they were actually picked to form a best-value roster, and Burks was one of the three receivers.
Burks (5'9", 180, 23 years old) is short in stature but with much more power than receivers with his measurables. He displayed elite athleticism during the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash (1.49 split), with a 42.5" vertical and 10'11" broad jump.
Q&A
Why is Deion Burks considered a bargain in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Deion Burks is regarded as a bargain because he was selected in the seventh round, yet multiple draft experts believe he has significant potential that was undervalued.
Who are the draft experts that praised Deion Burks?
Draft experts Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah, and Dane Brugler have all praised Deion Burks as one of the greatest bargains in the draft.
What round was Deion Burks selected in during the 2026 NFL Draft?
Deion Burks was selected in the seventh round as the 254th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What was the Colts' overall strategy in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Colts focused on value, selecting several players later than expected, including linebacker CJ Allen and safety A.J. Haulcy, in addition to Burks.
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You could argue that his film from Purdue (2021-23) shows much more of that athleticism and versatility than his film from Oklahoma (2024-25). Still, Burks shows the ability to stretch the field vertically, but also to turn a three-yard catch into a 50-yard gain because of his speed and yards-after-catch ability.
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Deion Burks (4) leaps to the end zone past Louisiana State Tigers cornerback PJ Woodland (11) to score a touchdown during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the LSU Tigers at Gaylord Family â Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-13. Mandatory Credit: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Deion Burks (4) leaps to the end zone past Louisiana State Tigers cornerback PJ Woodland (11) to score a touchdown during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the LSU Tigers at Gaylord Family â Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-13. Mandatory Credit: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
The athleticism, explosion, and playmaking potential is what had experts ranking Burks as a top-100 pick. However, there are some reasonable explanations as to why he slid in the draft.
When you know a player is undersized but explosive, you want to see it consistently on film. However, as Brugler points out in "The Beast,"Â Burks forced more missed tackles in his last season at Purdue (17) than he did in his two seasons combined at Oklahoma (14), and he had just two catches (15 targets) of 20-plus yards in his time at Oklahoma.
As far as production, Burks' single-season bests are 57 catches, 629 yards, and seven touchdowns, which are fine, but not enough to move the needle.
The last main issue, and what is always most concerning with undersized players, are injuries.
Burks played in just five games in 2024. A "soft tissue" injury caused him to miss five games, and then he suffered a concussion in his return, which kept him out of the final two games.
The Colts got great value with Burks in Round 7, but what are realistic expectations for him with the team? Initially, the range of outcomes is vast.
Indy has an opening at Z receiver (where Burks played at Oklahoma), but they're expected to deploy a committee between Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Burks. If Burks blows everybody away in training camp, then he could win the spot outright, while still ceding reps to the two veterans situationally.
The Colts will also give Burks a shot in the return game, which could mean that he and veteran Anthony Gould are competing for a single roster spot.
