The Chicago Bears pulled off the biggest surprise in the 2024 NFL Draft. They picked wide receiver Luther Burden III, who attended the University of Missouri. The Bears are hell-bent on improving their offensive productivity. They are hoping to offer adequate protection for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. The left tackle picked up first-team All-SEC accolades in 2023 and 2024. Now, he fits on a crowded pass catcher roster that includes Rome Odunze and DJ Moore.
Burden’s second-year performance made him look like a future top-10 NFL Draft pick and elite receiver. He piled up a tremendous 1,212 receiving yards while regularly handling the role of Mizzou’s go-to guy in an explosive attack. There was a big slump in 2024, where he finished with 536 less receiving yards on 25 fewer receptions. Perhaps more importantly, he lined up in the slot about 75% of the time he ran a route in both years.
After trading up to No. 2 overall to select Caleb Williams, the Bears made a great move by picking Burden. They signed Michigan tight end Colston Loveland first. Burden was the best player available on their board. This should illustrate just how high that team was on his talent and how well they thought he fit in their offensive system.
Burden’s getting ready for the Chicago Bears’ rookie minicamp, which started on Friday. He is eager to show his versatility and the value he – and a suspense-mounting LSU offense – still can bring outside the box. His addition affords the Bears a cornucopia of possibilities. Some perceive it as “an embarrassment of riches” having so many different weapons now able to be deployed.
Head coach Matt Eberflus, a first-time head coach himself, has been preachy about adapting to the team’s structure/personnel and expectations. “What I’m going to be curious to see is what guys look like when the ball’s not in their hands on offense,” he noted, highlighting the need for players to contribute beyond just catching passes.
Johnson, the Bears’ offensive coordinator, previously spoke about the task that comes with plugging all those Pro-Bowl caliber players into the offense just the same. Sure enough, you’re damn right we do, look at all of our weapons. Well, how are you going to operate your signalized route if you’re not first in the queue. How are you going to screen for your fellow player when he has the ball?
He agreed that the success would depend on each member’s commitment to adjusting and playing a role. “You know, we gotta win football games, and I know that the more talent that you have on the team, the better your opportunity is to win games,” Johnson stated. “We haven’t won a lot of games here, so yeah, things might be a little bit different.”
Burden himself expressed a determined mindset. “My mindset is that every time I get the ball, I’m trying to make the playcaller give me the ball some more. I’m always trying to make a play,” he remarked, signaling his readiness to embrace competition and contribute.
Burden is a natural that way, and his talent is undeniable. Still, he needs to learn to lead a roster loaded with strong pass catchers to grow appropriately in Chicago. General Manager Ryan Poles echoed this sentiment, saying, “There’s one ball, and someone’s going to be hot one week,” underscoring the necessity for players to find ways to stand out.
Burden gets to join the Bears’ lineup, bringing with him a huge amount of promise. His presence would dramatically boost the offensive flow in Chicago. His talents paired with the wonderful offensive talent currently on this roster could be magical. This trio together promisingly has the potential to change the team’s luck heading into next season.
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