Bears snag Luther Burden with 2nd-round pick

The Chicago Bears selected Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 39th overall.

Quarterback Caleb Williams lands another pass-catching target after Chicago drafted tight end Colston Loveland in the first round. Burden posted 676 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 after totaling over 1,200 yards in his 2023 campaign.

The promising wideout will join an established receiving corps that features DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Olamide Zaccheaus.

Pre-draft profile

Burden will get a lot of Deebo Samuel comparisons based on the way he was utilized at Missouri. He certainly has the athleticism, vision, and elusiveness to be a game-wrecker after the catch. And that alone would make him an effective playmaker at the next level. But there's also potential for much more than he was able to show on a regular basis in college. Burden's speed allows him to stretch the field with ease when given the opportunity, and he demonstrates the tracking ability, body control, and ball skills to be a consistent factor there. He'll need to expand his route tree to be a high-volume NFL receiver, but everything he's shown in that regard suggests it won't be an issue. There simply aren't many athletes who can move the way he does. Landing with a creative play-caller could make Burden one of the most exciting playmakers in football.