Film Study: Raiders LB Amari Burney

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Florida linebacker Amari Burney with the 203rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Burney is a big linebacker with good coverage range for his size. He is a raw athlete for the position, however, and may need some refining as a pure linebacker.

In his first full season starting for the Gators in 2022, Burney posted 79 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Burney - cousin of current Raiders cornerback Brandon Facyson - is raw, but has exceptional athleticism and could carve out an early role for himself on special teams.

Let’s take a look at a few games Burney played last season and see what the Silver and Black are getting with him.

In the Gators’ game against Tennessee, Burney made a smart play by taking on a blocker on a blitz, leaving a lane open for his teammate to get to Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker and forcing him into an errant throw.

Burney took on a lot of responsibility in this game. He covered receivers downfield and blitzed often. Those would also leave the middle of the field open, however, and the Volunteers were able to gain yards on chunk plays.

Burney had an impressive sack in this game, flying in on a blitz, overpowering the center, and then overpowering the running back in pass protection to strip the ball out of Hooker’s hands, and the Gators recovered.

He finished the game with eight tackles, two and a half tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.

In the game against Utah, Burney showed off more excellent athleticism from all over the field. While he is still raw overall, there are several flashes of him making read-and-react plays. His football IQ is better than what is written on scouting reports, and he has potential to be an early-down linebacker.

Burney made the play of the game against the Utes. With 22 seconds left, he made a diving interception to seal the game for the Gators. He finished the contest with seven tackles as well.

Amari Burney has the athleticism to survive in the NFL. If he can continue to improve on his play recognition, he has a chance to earn more and more snaps for himself and become an important contributor for the Raiders. 

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