Keenan

Burton

Burton tore his right patellar tendon last November. Prior to the injury, he was exposed as lacking starting-caliber talent while attempting to replace Laurent Robinson. Burton will be on the roster bubble in training camp.

There are no indications that the injury is serious, so the Rams may just be using caution here. Burton will have to stay healthy to hold off Laurent Robinson for the No. 2 receiver job.

However, newly acquired Ronald Curry and speedster Laurent Robinson will push Burton throughout training camp. Burton was often banged up in his first season and missed most of OTAs with a hamstring strain. He’s got ground to make up.

Hamstring injuries in June aren’t usually a serious concern, but Burton has now been held back for over two weeks. If the injury continues to linger, Laurent Robinson could gain an upper hand on the No. 2 receiver job.

Curry immediately becomes a serious candidate to start opposite Donnie Avery. Curry’s competition is Keenan Burton, who the Rams may have soured on after a lost spring due to hamstring woes, and speedster Laurent Robinson. Assuming he’s over his drop-filled 2008 season, Curry profiles well into new coordinator Pat Shurmur’s West Coast offense as a heady wideout with a nice frame (6'2/210) and the ability to play all three receiver positions. Both players here were on the roster bubble with their old clubs.

Robinson, the No. 75 overall pick in ’07, caught 37 balls in a promising rookie year but missed most of last season with head and hamstring injuries. He has 4.3 speed and good size (6'2/195), and will get a chance to start in St. Louis. Donnie Avery is locked into a first-team job, so Robinson, Derek Stanley, and Keenan Burton will vie in training camp for the other position.

Burton was opposite Donnie Avery, with Laurent Robinson the first wideout off the bench. St. Louis’ receivers have potential, but only Avery is even slightly proven. Burton is the best possession threat and could push Avery for the team lead in catches if his knees hold up and he beats out Robinson.

Laurent Robinson is “right in the mix,” however, and offers more long speed and experience than Burton. Avery is the best bet to lead St. Louis in catches and yards. The winner of Robinson vs. Burton could have deep league value.

Burton is directly behind Robinson, with Derek Stanley behind Donnie Avery at split end. Ronald Curry, rookie Brooks Foster, and Tim Carter all are bunched together on the third team. Robinson is someone to start seriously considering late in drafts. He appears to have a firm hold on a starting job.

At this point it would take something strange for Keenan Burton to move ahead of Robinson. We like the speedy Robinson as a deep sleeper that should get a decent amount of targets playing across from Donnie Avery.