The Chicago Bears‘ war room had to be electric when Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III was still on the board when GM Ryan Poles and company were on the clock in the second round of last month’s NFL Draft.
Burden, who caught 61 passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns for the Tigers last season, before being chosen No. 39 overall, is already making a strong impression on the Bears’ coaching staff.
“He’s an explosive athlete,” Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle told reporters during Chicago’s rookie minicamp. “He’s really exciting. His tape was really impressive in college. He’s a playmaker and when the ball’s in his hands, he was one of the best guys that we evaluated in this process.”
A big-play threat who can stretch the field opposite DJ Moore and with Rome Odunze a potentially prolific pass catcher, as well, Burden and his career 11.8 yards per reception average in college has the potential to significantly upgrade the Bears’ passing game for quarterback Caleb Williams, as the former No. 1 pick enters his second season.
Chicago Bears WR Luther Burden III Scouting Report
For as much confidence as the Bears seemed to have in Burden before picking up the phone to make the call on Night 2 of the NFL Draft, Burden seems to have in himself.
“Everybody who passed up on me gotta pay,” Burden told reporters at Halas Hall on Friday.
At least at the collegiate level, Burden’s confidence is well-earned, having caught 192 passes for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns across three seasons at Mizzou.
“Stud,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson recently said, was how he’d describe Burden.
As Pro Football Focus points out, Burden has the potential to be an after the catch machine in Johnson’s offense, after forcing 30 missed tackles last season, which led the nation, on his way to averaging 6.1 yards after the catch per reception. That kind of production will fit right into Johnson’s system and could help significantly elevate Williams’ potential.
“I think he got bored with that offense,” an NFC National Scout told NFL Media of Burden, ahead of the draft. “His playing style is like Jerry Jeudy but with Amon-Ra St. Brown’s hands and toughness.”
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