The Chicago Bears revamped their offensive attack during the offseason. One of the big additions was second-round pick Luther Burden III, and the standout collegiate wide receiver is already proving to Bears fans that he means business.
After entering the SEC as a top prospect, Burden III enjoyed a standout career with the Missouri Tigers before declaring for the NFL Draft following his junior season. His production dropped as a junior due to issues at the quarterback position rather than anything Burden did. This is where things took a surprising turn for the former five-star prospect.
Rather than being a first-round selection, like many franchises had told Burden III they expected him to be, the wideout fell to Chicago with the No. 39 overall pick, making Burden III the sixth wide receiver off the board. This sense of being slighted has stuck with the newest Bears wide receiver, and he vows to make the rest of the league pay for passing him up.
Bears' Burden III Promises to Make Rest of NFL Pay for Draft Experience
"No, that's staying with me forever," Burden told ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "Everybody who passed up on me gotta pay."
With Burden III in the fold, along with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, Caleb Williams has a wealth of talent at his disposal, which should make containing Ben Johnson's offensive attack a tall order for opposing defenses.
Giving a player as naturally gifted as Burden III any extra motivation is typically a bad omen for defenses trying to contain him. While the talent he will be facing on the other side of the ball will be a level up from his time in the SEC, the rookie wideout should enjoy plenty of success during his first year in Chicago.
How Burden III plans to rub that success in the collective faces of the front offices that passed on him will be something worth following for Bears fans once the 2025 regular season kicks off.