Heading into the 2024 college football season, Luther Burden III was one of the most tantalizing wide receivers in the country, but after taking a step back in terms of production in his junior season at Missouri, Burden became something of an afterthought heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.
Concerns about Burden’s polish as a route-runner prevailed as the talented wide receiver slipped into the second round, but as Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network said about Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders who has undergone a tumble down draft boards of his own, It’s not when you go, many times success is determined by where you go, and Burden found his way to the perfect landing spot.
With the No. 39 overall pick in the 2025 @NFLDraft, the @ChicagoBears select Luther Burden III.
— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025
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Luther Burden III will thrive under first-time head coach Ben Johnson in Chicago
The Chicago Bears selected Burden with the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the second offensive skill-player that general manager Ryan Poles and first-time head coach Ben Johnson added to their roster this week. Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, who was the 10th overall pick to Chicago, will be maximized by Johnson’s propensity to use two-tight end sets on offense, but when he goes to 11 personnel around second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, that third wide receiver will likely be Burden.
The Bears have stockpiled weapons for Williams, drafting Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze with their second first-round pick last season to pair him with DJ Moore, so to bring in another with Burden, Johnson clearly has a plan for how to use him.
Johnson is one of the most creative and innovative play-callers in the NFL, which earned him the head coaching job in Chicago after leading the offense in Detroit to huge success. Burden’s run-after-the-catch ability is unique in this year’s draft class, and there isn’t another play-caller better suited to build a package of plays around that skillset.
Last season, 26 percent of Burden’s receptions came behind the line of scrimmage, and for the season, he averaged 6.1 yards after the catch per reception. He’s a receiver unlike anybody Johnson had in Detroit, but as the OC of the Lions, Johnson made the most of players like Jameson Williams with his limited route-tree as a vertical threat, and found ways to get the ball into his hands as he developed as a well-rounded pass-catcher.
Burden will be used differently than Williams was, relying heavily on screens and potentially even handoffs to make plays early in his career, but those touches will ease the transition to a full NFL playbook and give Burden the best chance of becoming a star at the next level.