The Chicago Bears have used the last few months to start establishing a new culture under Ben Johnson. Rookies will report to Halas Hall on July 19, and veterans will come in shortly after on July 22.
The intensity in the building will kick up a notch since the 2025 season is creeping up rapidly. The Bears were able to draft eight players back in April, and several of these players will have a role this season.
In the second round, Chicago drafted Luther Burden III, and he's going to have a role in this offense. He missed spring workouts due to a soft tissue injury but is expected to be back for training camp.
That adds another pass catcher to the WR room and spells bad news for Miles Boykin.
Miles Boykin Could Be on Thin Ice This Summer
Back in April, Boykin signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with Chicago, but they wouldn't get hit with any dead cap hits if they were to release him. He's been in the NFL for five seasons, playing with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. At those spots, he has reeled in 38 catches for 498 yards and seven touchdowns. Boykin has never had more than 266 receiving yards in a campaign, and that came in 2020.
He was brought in to be a depth piece, but with other vets like Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay on the roster, they have better options to lean on. Burden III also has some dynamic tools to bring to the table. He's electric after the catch with the ability to make defenders miss.
In three seasons with the Missouri Tigers, he had 192 receptions, 2,263 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns. Although he didn't have the most productive 2023 season (676 receiving yards and six touchdowns), Bears director of college scouting Breck Ackley said, "You still saw the flashes of the same skill set. So for us, that's what really matters."
Since he missed multiple practices in OTAs and minicamp, he will need some catching up to do, but considering he was the 39th overall pick, he will have a role going forward.
D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze are already entrenched as a 1-2 punch at WR. Burden III is someone who will creep up. The Bears currently have 12 receivers on the roster, and Boykin is a player who should be looking over his shoulder.