Luther Burden III

Summary

Luther Burden III was selected in Round 2 (#39 Overall) of the 2025 Draft out of University of Missouri. Burden entered college as a five-star recruit and quickly established himself as one of the most electric offensive players in the country. Through his first three collegiate seasons, he produced 3,000+ all-purpose yards, including 2,300+ receiving yards, 20+ receiving touchdowns, and significant rushing production on jet sweeps and designed touches. He posted back-to-back 1,200+ yard receiving seasons, earned First-Team All-SEC honors, and was named a Biletnikoff Award finalist, cementing his status as a premier playmaker in the SEC. Burden is widely regarded as a dynamic, position-flexible offensive weapon with elite explosiveness and creativity. Burden did have some rumblings of character “diva” wide receiver tendencies coming out of Mizzou, but so far has done everything asked of him in the pros from Ben Johnson and the Bears.

Strengths

• Elite Explosiveness: Sudden accelerator with rare burst who turns routine touches into explosive gains. Outstanding vision, balance, and creativity after the catch and breaks tackles and angles in space.

• Route Separation: Quick feet and sharp cuts allow him to win early in routes, especially underneath and intermediate. Effective outside, in the slot, on jet motion, screens, and backfield alignments.

• Ball Skills: Confident hands with strong body control and adjusts well to off-platform throws. Plays with edge and confidence and embraces being the focal point of coverage.

• Open-Field Instincts: Natural feel for leverage and pursuit angles and dangerous in broken plays. Threat to score any time he touches the ball.

Weaknesses

• Play Strength vs. Press: Can be disrupted by bigger, physical corners at the line. Aggressive YAC mentality can lead to unnecessary contact exposure.

• Route Tree Expansion: Still refining full NFL route inventory; relied heavily on schemed touches early. Heavy usage may raise questions about distribution vs. scheme reliance.

• Downfield Contested Catches: More separation-based than dominant at the catch point.

• Blocking Consistency: Willing but technique and effort can fluctuate.

Outlook

Burden is an ideal fit for modern, creative NFL offenses that emphasize space, motion, and yards after catch. He thrives in systems that move receivers pre-snap, manufacture touches, and allow playmakers to operate in space—making him especially valuable in West Coast, spread, and RPO-based schemes. His ability to line up across the formation and contribute as both a receiver and runner stresses defensive structure and creates matchup problems, similar to what Jameson Williams did in Detroit for Ben Johnson. Looking ahead, Burden boasts legitimate WR1 upside but may find a home as a deep threat Z or someone who is peppered with screens for his YAC ability to flourish. Continued development against press coverage and refinement of his route tree will determine how quickly he reaches his ceiling, but his explosiveness, versatility, and confidence give him one of the highest offensive playmaking ceilings in his class. At minimum, he profiles as a foundational offensive weapon capable of anchoring a passing game and dictating defensive attention from Day 1.