Thirty-two names were called Thursday night, but Missouri’s star wide receiver Luther Burden III — once considered a surefire first-round pick — wasn’t among them.
Burden’s draft stock has taken a hit in recent weeks, leaving Missouri fans stunned by his fall. NFL executives clearly have their reasons, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty about what those concerns might be.
The East St. Louis native is expected to be among the first names called on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, Friday night in Green Bay.
Burden is one of the most talented players still available and isn’t expected to stay on the board for long. Here are a few potential landing spots:
Cleveland Browns
This pick makes a lot of sense for the Browns, who are in need of a second receiver to pair with Jerry Jeudy.
The Browns hold two of the first four picks in the second round, with selections at No. 33 and No. 36.
If the Browns are considering drafting Shedeur Sanders, it might be wise to pair him with a young, talented weapon like Burden.
Tennessee Titans
Looming between the Browns’ two second-round picks is the Tennessee Titans, a team also in need of a young receiver.
The Titans hold the No. 35 pick and are also in the market for a young receiver to pair with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.
Burden is expected to make an immediate impact in the NFL, and pairing him with veterans like Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett would provide a strong foundation for his development.
Dallas Cowboys
Landing Burden would likely require the Cowboys to trade up a few spots, but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
Dallas could be a dream landing spot for Burden, giving him the opportunity to learn from one of the league’s top receivers in CeeDee Lamb.
New head coach Brian Schottenheimer is an offensive-minded signal-caller, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make an aggressive push for a player of Burden’s caliber if he slips a few more picks.