Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In the days leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, WGR will provide profiles on some players that could be a good fit for the Buffalo Bills at positions of need.
As we continue to focus on defensive ends, this profile will feature Jordan Burch, who was one half of one of the best 1-2 tandems on a defensive line in college football last season when he played alongside defensive tackle Derrick Harmon for the University of Oregon.
The Ducks defense, led by that defensive line, led the Big 10 in sacks.
A little older by NFL prospect standards, the 23-year-old Burch is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. He was an All-American in high school, and a five-star prospect.
He began his college career at the University of South Carolina, playing for the Gamecocks for three seasons. He played in 34 games for his hometown team and had 5.5 sacks.
Burch then transferred to Oregon, where he played in 24 games over the last two seasons. He did miss most of October last season, though, due to knee and ankle injuries. His stat line for the Ducks included 65 tackles, 18.5 for loss, 11.5 sacks and seven passes broken up.
In 2024, Burch was second among Big 10 defensive linemen in pass breakups, and second on the Ducks in sacks, despite missing four games. He was rewarded with Third-Team All-Big 10 status.
Burch was listed at 6-foot-6, 295 pounds on the Ducks' website last season, but he weighed in at 279 pounds at the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.67 40-yard dash, which is pretty fast for a 279-pound man.
Here is what Joe Marino from the “Locked on Bills” and “Locked on NFL Scouting” podcasts has to say about Burch:
Positives:
With Jordan Burch, it's all about physical upside. He's got a ton of size, a ton of athleticism, and you see that show up on tape.
There's a lot of power, there's a lot of explosiveness. I think he's got the heavy hands and the good length and extension skills that the Bills typically prefer. A lot of variety of moves to beat blocks, and I think he's extremely versatile.
The Bills love to have these defensive ends that can play on the edge, but also reduce inside and on long and late downs, be able to give them some interior rush. You think about Duwuane Smoot filling that role last year, Shaq Lawson in the past.
I think he's a very clean player in being able to do that type of stuff.
Concerns:
I think he's just OK as a run defender, and there's a processing component that I wish was better, in terms of understanding blocking schemes and how to respond. I'd like to see him process a little bit better.
He does have a tendency to play tall at the point of attack, so we need to see him play with better leverage. Then I think for the exciting physical profile that he has, I still think he's learning how to deploy it all. So, getting to his rush counters quicker, being able to respond quicker to blocking schemes.
I think just playing a little faster to take advantage of the athletic ceiling that he has is something that will be important to unlock all of his potential at the next level.
WGR will provide full coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft during all seven rounds, starting Thursday, April 24 and continuing through Saturday, April 26.
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