Jager Burton Selected in NFL Draft Fifth Round by Green Bay
PITTSBURGH – Kentucky senior center Jager Burton was chosen by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round (153rd overall pick) of the 2026 National Football League Draft on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Burton, a 6-4, 323-pound native of Lexington, was a dependable stalwart at Kentucky. He played in 51 games and finished his career with 47 consecutive starting assignments in games he played. He started at offensive guard as a redshirt freshman and sophomore before playing his final two seasons at center.
As a senior, Burton was a candidate for the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the Southeastern Conference. Playing 830 snaps, he led the team with 158 blocks at the point of attack, graded 85 percent for the season and had 23 knockdown blocks. He had only two penalties and allowed just 1.5 quarterback sacks. He earned the game captain role four times. After the season, he was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and participated in the NFL Combine.
Burton began his Kentucky career in 2021, playing in four games that enabled him to preserve his redshirt status. He started all 13 games at left guard as a redshirt freshman (2022), earning a spot on the Coaches Freshman All-SEC team. He started the first three games of his soph campaign at center before moving to right guard for his last nine starts. His junior season featured 10 starts at center, with two games missed because of injury.
Burton completed his bachelor’s degree in December of 2024 with a major in Communication. He was a four-year member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Burton is the second Wildcat taken in the 2026 selection process, joining guard Jalen Farmer (fourth round, Indianapolis) as rounds 5-7 continue Saturday.
Kentucky/NFL Draft Notes:
- This is the eighth consecutive draft that Kentucky has had at least two players selected (2019-26) and a Wildcat has been chosen in the fourth round or higher in all eight drafts.
- UK has had seven offensive linemen picked in the last eight NFL Drafts.
- Offensive tackle George Asafo-Adjei – seventh round by the New York Giants in the 2019
- Offensive guard Logan Stenberg – fourth round by the Detroit Lions in 2020
- Offensive tackle Landon Young – sixth round by the New Orleans Saints in 2021
- Center Luke Fortner – third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021
- Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard – fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022
- Offensive guard Jalen Farmer – fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2026
- Center Jager Burton – fifth round by the Green Bay Packers in 2026
- Burton is the ninth Wildcat drafted by the Packers, including Joe Bailey (1941), Jay Rhodemyre (1948), Jim Howe (1950), Ben Zaranka (1950), Bob Gain (1951), Babe Parilli (1952), Bill Bushong (1972), Randall Cobb (2011) and Carrington Valentine (2023).
- Burton joins two Kentucky teammates in Green Bay, Darian Kinnard and Carrington Valentine.
