Why Luther Burden III could be the most important Chicago Bears pick?

Highlights in the NFL season include the NFL games in London, where tickets are available on Ticket-Compare, the Thanksgiving day games, the Christmas day fixtures and ultimately the playoffs leading ot the Superbowl. The NFL is the most exciting league around in any sport.

Making it so special is the abundance of talent coming through the College teams, and the entire pageantry of the draft in April means young players have their moment coming into the big league from the college game.

One of those players this year was wide receiver Luther Burden III, who was chosen as a 2nd round pick by the Chicago Bears. Burden was hotly sought after by many, but the Bears were surprised he was still available in the second round of picks. Yet he was, and the Bears could not have been happier to get their man.

Who is the wide receiver, and how did he fare in college?

Coming out of the University of Missouri, Burden was the 39th pick of the 2025 draft and is part of the rebuild that the Bears are trying to start. The 6-foot-tall wide receiver has been clocked as a rising athlete ever since he was a child, as he prospered in most sports and was a multi-sport athlete throughout school.

Whilst at the Missouri Tigers, Burden grabbed headlines by recording five straight 100+ yard games, a feat nearly unmatched in Missouri history during his sophomore year. It was a high-flying first year for Burden as he earned First-Team All-SEC and second-team All-American honours.

His junior year saw a dip in his productivity with his stats dropping from 86 receptions, 1,212 yards (third most in school history) and nine TDs to 61 receptions, 676 yards, and six TDs in 12 games. However, with problems within the side, for example, offensive injuries, Burden was not held responsible for the side's decline.

After three years at College, Burden decided it was time to enter himself into the draft for the NFL.

Why is Burden and the Bears a good fit?

The Bears, as stated, are trying to change things to find that Super Bowl title that they have been craving so much since 1986. With the addition of new head coach Ben Johnson in his first head job, players are intrigued to see what environment he will create in Chicago.

With a history of offensive role jobs, Johnson is expected to play with an attacking flair to his side, and a top-notch wide receiver will be key to how he operates. That man could well be Burden straight away.

Only recently was Johnson at loggerheads with the bad body language of the starting wide receiver D.J Moore, so much so that Moore is no longer with the Bears after he was traded to the Patriots. This has opened up a huge opportunity for Burden, and one that he will be more than ready to grab.

With the offensive line expecting a shake-up, Burden will be looking to take his strengths into the NFL. Over his three years at Missouri, Burden caught 192 passes for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns and will be looking to build on this college experience under the tutelage of Johnson, who is fresh from his Offensive coordinator role with the Detroit Lions.

Burden’s strengths lie in his ability to be explosive with his plays, which makes him very hard to defend against. With just short catches, he can make the play electric and exciting. It is easy to see why so many people compare him to Deebo Samuel and Curtis Samuel. With just a success rate of 40.47% for the Bears in terms of rushing last season, and losing DJ Moore, who was sixth in the league standings for YAC. With the physicality of Burden, he could easily step into the role of Moore’s to help enhance the Bears' attacking prowess.

Alongside his pace, he has what all good wide receivers need, and that is a catch radius. Although not the tallest, which could hinder him in the NFL, he more than makes up for it for his ability to catch balls that seem way out of reach. The 21-year-old has a strong catch rate, finishing his college career with an 85.9% catch rate. In 2024, he caught 61 passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games for the Missouri Tigers.

With Johnspn’s alignment being that of an offensive mind, he needs smart players, and Burden has exquisite route understanding. An ability to illustrate a higher-than-expected route IQ has made him stand out in a difficult season. It would not be unlikely that Johnson makes Burrell his go-to man.

Will it work?

Luther Burden III is a unique blend of speed, strength, and stats to back up his ability to catch, and YAC splendour. All this makes him a real threat to any defensive line in the country and especially when he is going to be coached by one of the best offensive coaches in the league.

The Bears is a place that will complement his strengths and could help avoid his weaknesses being exposed too much at a tender age. If not this season, then certainly next year, you will see Burden be one of the standout wide receiving players in the NFL.