The Chicago Bears showed a clear pattern in the first year of the Ben Johnson era. They took things slowly with the rookies, spoon-feeding them before finally unleashing them in the second half of the campaign.
Colston Loveland, Ozzy Trapilo, and Luther Burden III weren't much of a factor early, but all of them proved to be stars in the making when given a longer leash. That's especially the case with the latter, who overcame a slow start to the season before becoming a major factor down the stretch.
Burden showed glimpses of greatness in his first year in the league, and the advanced stats are even more impressive than his raw numbers. As explained by ESPN's Ben Solak, he joined a very exclusive club in his first year in the league.
Luther Burden III will be crucial for the 2026 Chicago Bears
“Burden averaged 2.92 yards per route run during the regular season. That's tied with A.J. Brown for the best mark for a rookie receiver (minimum 50 targets) in the past 15 years. Just below Burden and Brown are Justin Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr., Puka Nacua and Ja'Marr Chase,” Solak wrote.
Burden only started 5 of 15 games as a rookie. He finished the season with 47 catches on 60 targets for 652 yards and 2 touchdowns, adding six catches for 66 yards in the postseason. However, he made the most of every single chance he got to showcase his skills, logging two games of 100+ yards and one touchdown.
Efficiency was the name of the game for Burden, whose 78.3 successful catch rate ranked among the highest in the league. Coach Johnson gave him an earful early in the offseason and was frustrated with his injury concerns, but that was just because he was well aware of what he could do once he got settled into the offense.
Now, with a full year of experience under his belt and a full training camp, the Bears should be eager to unleash him right out of the gate. Moreover, D.J. Moore is no longer in town, so he should be Caleb Williams' No. 2 guy behind Rome Odunze.
Burden's secure hands, speed, acceleration, and quick twitch help him make defensive backs look foolish. And with a quarterback who's never afraid to sling the pigskin down the field, Burden should be in for a plethora of highlight-worthy catches and explosive plays in his second year in the league.
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