Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, Luther Burden was considered one of the best wide receivers available in the class. And yet, the Chicago Bears were able to draft him with the No. 39 overall pick.
Wide receiver wasn’t necessarily a position of need, with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze already on the roster. However, Burden’s inclusion gives the Bears and new head coach Ben Johnson another dynamic option. Defenses will have a hard time stopping all three wide receivers, not to mention Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet at tight end.
When it comes to Burden, he is entering the NFL with a major chip on his shoulder. He still remembers every team that passed on him in the draft. As he begins his tenure with the Bears, Burden is ready to show every other NFL franchise why they made a mistake passing on him, via Chicago’s X, formerly Twitter account.
“No that’s staying with me forever,” Burden said. “Everybody who passed up on me got to pay.”
What @lutherburden3 said pic.twitter.com/0uwnvtoBh5
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 9, 2025
Luther Burden gives Chicago Bears offense different dynamic
Moore and Odunze will retain their spots atop the wide receiver depth chart, but Burden will play a massive role out of the slot. If cornerbacks are too focused on the outside, Burden will be able to find open space. And the wide receiver running down field with the ball in his hands is why he was considered a first-round talent in the first place.
Over his three years as Missouri, Burden caught 192 passes for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns. His breakout season actually came during Burden’s sophomore campaign. He set new career-highs across the board in receptions (86), yardage (1,212) and touchdowns (nine). The receiver was named First-team All-SEC in his final two years on campus.
While Burden’s numbers dropped to 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, Missouri dealt with questionable quarterback play all year. There are certainly things the former Tiger will need to improve on as he enters the NFL. However, no one was doubting his playmaking ability going into the draft.
It won’t be a problem he complains about, but the biggest issue facing Johnson now is simply helping Burden shine in the new-look offense. His physical traits are eye-catching. But Moore, Odunze, Loveland and Kmet all need to be fed too. It’ll make for a difficult task for opposing defensive coordinators to keep up with. However, Chicago’s expansive list of pass catching options may make it difficult for Burden to have consistent standout performances.
Still, ever since the Bears used the No. 39 pick on Burden, Johnson has been scheming up ways to get him open in space. By the end of the year, Chicago’s brass is hoping the receiver becomes a trusted target for Williams.
Burden has plans of his own, sharing many of them with Johnson and the Bears’ decision makers. But one goal will remain personal for the wide receiver throughout his entire NFL career. While he didn’t have to wait long into day two, Burden was still expecting to be a first-round pick. Now given an opportunity in Chicago, Burden is ready to prove the doubters wrong and show how dangerous he can really be with the ball in his hands.
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