If NFL teams could re-do the 2025 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III certainly wouldn’t drop to the second round. Burden may have only played 40 percent of the offensive snaps last season, but he managed to record 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns.
Now that Burden is the No. 2 receiver on the Bears, he will be getting a lot more action this season. Head coach Ben Johnson sees him as having a “destiny” to be great and compared him to other NFL greats such as two-time first-team All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who Johnson worked with during his time with the Detroit Lions, as well as five-time Pro-Bowler Jarvis Landry.
“St. Brown in Detroit, who I have a strong affinity for, plays the game the same way, I feel that from Luther,” Johnson said. “I know he wasn’t a full-time starter for us a year ago, but the snaps that he did have, he’s got that competitive edge and desire to be great.”
Johnson has a knack for bringing out the best in receivers. Both of St. Brown’s All-Pro seasons came while Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator. In addition, two of Landry’s Pro Bowl seasons came when Johnson was his receivers coach with the Miami Dolphins.
Last season, none of Chicago’s receivers had a breakout year. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland actually ended up leading the team in receiving with 713 yards. But this season is poised to change that. Between Rome Odunze, Loveland and Burden, defenders have a lot of threats to worry about, not to mention quarterback Caleb Williams who can hurt defenses on the ground. This could easily be the year Burden shows the league that he is one of the best in the NFL.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC Ben Johnson compared Luther Burden to Amon-Ra St. Brown
Reporting by Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
