When the Chicago Bears hired head coach Ben Johnson, the franchise sent a clear message that they’re expecting offensive improvement moving forward. The Bears held true on that belief in the 2025 draft, using their first three draft picks on offensive players.
More specifically, Chicago’s first two picks were on offensive skill position players. Tight end Colston Loveland came off the board at No. 10 while wide receiver Luther Burden followed at No. 39. Neither were necessarily positions of need entering the draft for the Bears. However, it’s hard to argue that Chicago has accomplished their goal of offensive revival, at least on paper.
There were 257 total picks made throughout the entire 2025 NFL Draft. And to Matt Miller of ESPN, the Bears drafting Burden was the best pick of the entire event.
“Burden was my top wide receiver in the class (I’m counting Travis Hunter as a two-way player), and he landed in a great situation with the Bears and new coach Ben Johnson,” Miller wrote. “Burden’s yards-after-catch ability is terrific, and Johnson’s scheme has been elite at creating space for wide receivers. Burden likely starts as a slot receiver with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze flanking him, but he thrived in that alignment at Missouri.”
Luther Burden gives Chicago Bears extra spark
The Bears already have two standout receivers in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. They signed veteran Olamide Zaccheaus early in the offseason, seemingly to fill the WR3 role. However, Chicago finished their 2024 campaign ranked second-to-last in passing offense, averaging 181.5 yards per game. Johnson and company want quarterback Caleb Williams to have as many strong weapons as possible at his disposal in 2025.
Burden will likely start out in the slot, a role he excelled at during his time at Missouri. Over his three years with the Tigers, the wide receiver caught 192 passes for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns. While he was named First-team All-SEC in his final two seasons, Burden broke out during his sophomore campaign. Then, he set new career-highs in receptions (86), yardage (1,212) and touchdowns (nine).
Burden is at his best with the ball in open space. There aren’t many receivers in the 2025 class, if there are any, better after the catch than Burden. Johnson will surely be scheming up ways to get the ball in the wide receivers hands. While it’ll be a difficult leap up to the NFL level, Burden and everyone on the Bears remains confident the second-round pick has what it takes to shine in the Windy City.
Don’t forget about Loveland
Burden wasn’t the only pick to be heralded by Miller. He named Chicago’s Loveland selection the seventh-best pick of the draft. The Bears were the only franchise to have two top 10 selections in Miller’s eyes.
“I had Loveland as my No. 1 tight end, and apparently the Bears agreed; they made him the top tight end drafted,” Miller wrote. “His ability in the passing game — he runs routes like a receiver and has the speed to separate from linebackers and safeties — makes Loveland an easy comparison to Sam LaPorta, whom Bears coach Ben Johnson had great success with in Detroit. Value, need and scheme fit all match with this pick.”
Leading up to the draft, many scouts and pundits projected that Chicago would target Tyler Warren. However, the Bears preferred Loveland’s athleticism and abilities in the passing game. With Cole Kmet already on the roster, his arrival gives the Bears a dynamic duo at the tight end position.
Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with the Wolverines in 2023 before setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) in 2022. The tight end ended his time in Michigan earning Second-team All-American honors.
The Bears have spent all offseason bolstering their offense around Williams ahead of Johnson’s arrival. Burden and Loveland give Chicago two potent weapons to build their pass attack around. While that will be exciting for fans in 2025, the Bears are planning to be an offensive force for the foreseeable future.
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