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NFL Draft 2025: Former Mizzou WR Luther Burden III selected in Round 2
Published:
Luther Burden III is going to the Windy City.
With the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Burden. Though some folks were surprised to see Burden drop out of the opening round on Thursday, the slide wasn’t a prolonged one. The former Mizzou wideout was the seventh pick of the second round.
Beginning his professional career in Chicago marks a return home for Burden, who signed with Mizzou as a 5-star recruit out of East St. Louis High in Illinois in the 2022 class.
The 6-foot Burden was a starter from Day 1 for the Tigers. He was a Biletnikoff semifinalist in 2023, a 2-time first-team All-SEC selection, and a second-team All-American. In 38 career games, Burden brought in 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns.
He made 10 starts as a true freshman, though the production was modest.
In 2023, he exploded onto the scene as one of the best receivers in America. Burden made starts in all 13 games and closed out the season with 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns on 86 receptions.
Last fall, Burden was expected to take another jump and solidify himself as a future first-round receiver. That never quite materialized. He finished the season with just 676 receiving yards on 61 catches and topped the century mark in just 1 game.
Still, Burden’s explosiveness and run-after-the-catch ability give him a high ceiling in the NFL. In Chicago, he’ll get to catch passes from former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago also spent its first-round pick on a pass-catcher, selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland 10th overall.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
