The Detroit Lions are signing offensive lineman Jacob Burton of the Michigan Panthers. It will be the 2nd time the Detroit Lions have signed a player from the Michigan Panthers who also play out of Ford Field. The Lions signed kicker Jake Bates in mid-June who played for the Panthers this season.
OL Jake Burton – Baylor (6’5, 312 lbs, 26 y/o)
This past season he played in all 11 of the Panthers with 10 starts. Burton was a consistent pass rusher for the Panthers at left guard. It was extremely rare for him to allow pressure through the 2024 season. He had the 10th highest pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus this past season at 74.6. Over 284 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed only 7 total pressures without any sacks.
Burton played for the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL in 2022 and 2023. He played primarily right tackle for the Stars in 2023 and finished with the 7th highest pass-blocking grade among tackles with 50 or more pass-blocking reps with a grade of 76.9. Over 361 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, he allowed 1 sack and 18 total pressures.
In his first season as a pro, he had 368 pass blocking snaps and allowed 3 sacks and 25 total pressures earning a 53.9 pass blocking grade from PFF. Burton has shown improvement in every season in his 3 years as a pro allowing fewer pressures and sacks in the years that followed.
Burton started his collegiate career with UCLA where he played in 29 games with 23 starts from 2017 to 2019 after redshirting in 2016. He had 23 starts over the 2018-19 seasons at right tackle with UCLA.
He played his final season with Baylor in 2020 where he started in all 8 games that he played in at right guard.
Burton signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and was released from the practice squad in early September. He will have a 2nd shot at the NFL now as he joins the Detroit Lions.
