Treylon Burks' flashes over the second half of 2025 were enough to pique the Washington Commanders' interest in something more. The wide receiver got another one-year deal that could be worth up to $4 million, but something other than money convinced him to stick around.
Burks may not have lived up to his first-round billing as yet, but the physical talent is unquestioned. Consistency is the next challenge, but the former Arkansas standout has the athleticism and physicality to be impactful.
And according to the player, his blossoming relationship with new offensive coordinator David Blough was too tempting to walk away from.
Treylon Burks outlines excitement about Commanders' offense under David Blough
Blough and Burks hit it off last season, which played a leading role in his decision to stay in Washington. The wideout was highly complimentary of the rookie NFL play-caller. While he wasn't giving anything away about the schematics, he's confident the player will meet their end of the bargain to get things trending up quickly.
"We just established that great relationship with each other. You can just tell a bond when you meet somebody. You can just tell that they're a great person. I just wanted to be back here and be around him. I think it's going to be really good. I think the guys are going to take care of the rest of that and make sure it is what he wants it to be. I don't want to talk about it too much and jinx it, but I'm excited about it, for sure."
While the Commanders' decision to promote Blough raised a few eyebrows around the league, there is a growing sense in the building that head coach Dan Quinn might be onto something. He's worked with some exceptional offensive minds and is widely respected around the league. The former journeyman quarterback should also have innovative ideas and more pro-style concepts to help quarterback Jayden Daniels considerably.
At a time when everything around the Commanders is changing, keeping Blough has given Daniels some much-needed stability. The move didn't receive widespread approval from analysts, but one only has to look at the comments from Burks and others to see how high confidence is within the franchise.
Burks might have a good bond with Blough, but that is just the start. He's still got to earn his playing time. The Commanders have raised competition for places after signing Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson Jr. If Brandon Aiyuk also joins, and Washington spends the No. 7 pick on someone like Ohio State prospect Carnell Tate, it's going to look even more crowded.
What comes next is down to Burks. But if the pass-catcher didn't believe in the role Blough has planned for him, he'd have looked elsewhere.