The Chicago Bears put a clear emphasis on improving the offense in the 2025 NFL Draft, using their first three picks on offensive players on that side of the ball in new head coach Ben Johnson's first draft in charge. Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, and Ozzy Trapilo all figure to have roles to some degree, and the team clearly wanted to give Caleb Williams some more help.
Johnson saw significant success with the Detroit Lions by building a deep offense, and he's trying to do the same in Chicago.
So far, it appears to be working. Speaking to the media after the draft, Johnson revealed that one of his former players sang Burden's praises in particular through a text message.
Ben Johnson said he got a text from Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams about Luther Burden III, who is a fellow East St. Louis, Ill. native.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) April 27, 2025
What did that text read? "You got a dog just like me."
Lions WR Jameson Williams Praises Bears' Luther Burden III Draft Pick
The Bears took Burden out of Missouri with their first of three second-round selections, and Johnson declared that Lions WR Jameson Williams is a fan of Chicago's pick.
"You got a dog just like me," Williams texted Johnson. Both Burden and Williams are from St. Louis, MO, so there seems to be some sort of connection there. If Burden, who was widely considered to be the best slot receiver in the class, can produce anything like Williams did last year under Johnson, the Bears will have landed a steal.
Williams caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven TDs last year in 15 games. He's dealt with suspension issues, though there's no question that he's one of the league's most dangerous weapons when he's on the field. Burden can be that too, particularly if he taps back into the form that saw him finish 2023 with 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine TDs.
Just a reminder that Luther Burden is disgusting and shouldn’t have been available at 39 pic.twitter.com/bJiG5NIRuG
— Windy City War Room: A Bears and Draft Podcast (@WindyCityWR) April 26, 2025
He might be the steal of the draft, particularly if Johnson finds creative ways to get him open in space. Burden contributes on special teams too, and he'll likely compete for return duties throughout the summer.
With Burden and Loveland joining an already-stacked skill-position group that includes D.J. Moore, D'Andre Swift, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Cole Kmet, Johnson will certainly have options in play design.
At least based on Williams' comments, it sure seems like the rest of the division is taking note of what the Bears are doing as well.