From one bay to the next! Excited for this next chapter @49ers #NinerGang pic.twitter.com/jQ5XEtt8Ic
— Oren Burks (@BangTimeBurks) March 15, 2022
Linebacker Oren Burks, a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2018, intends to sign with the San Francisco 49ers at the start of the new league year.
Burks announced the decision on his official Twitter account on Tuesday. The move can become official on Wednesday. Burks, who has an expiring rookie contract, will be the Packers’ first loss in unrestricted free agency.
First-year general manager Brian Gutekunst traded up into the third round to take Burks at No. 88 overall in 2018. The highly athletic linebacker was never able to carve out a meaningful role on the Packers defense but did end up playing almost 1,200 total snaps on special teams over 59 games and four seasons in Green Bay.
While he never became a starting-level player, he stuck around by developing into a versatile asset on both defense and special teams.
Burks is leaving the Packers are producing 92 tackles, two forced fumbles, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and a half-sack during his first four NFL easons.
The Packers are losing a core special teamer. Over the last three seasons, Burks has played at least 75 percent of the team’s special teams snaps each year, including a career-high and team-high 337 snaps last season.
Burks was on the field for a career-best 205 defensive snaps in 2021. He played both inside and outside linebacker in Joe Barry’s scheme and was rarely a liability.
The Packers will likely attempt to find a developmental linebacker to help replace Burks through the draft.
