Former Luxury Pick Luther Burden Now Essential For Bears Vs. Rams In Divisional Round

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On 2025 NFL draught weekend, Luther Burden III was wide considered a luxury prime for nan Chicago Bears. You cognize nan one, a action a squad makes erstwhile nan halfway of nan roster is already settled.

And while nan Chicago Bears' roster was, successful fact, beardown astatine nan time, location were immoderate Bears fans who thought utilizing a apical second-round prime connected a receiver was superfluous.

Chicago already had DJ Moore and Rome Odunze entrenched successful nan apical 2 spots connected nan wide receiver pecking order, and nan Bears had conscionable invested a top-10 prime connected tight extremity Colston Loveland.

MORE: Despite breakout 2025 season, Bears look agelong Super Bowl odds

How galore walk catchers did Ben Johnson need?

As Brad Biggs elaborate successful his latest file for nan Chicago Tribune, nan Bears were eying a different guidance successful nan 2nd round. The New England Patriots selected moving backmost TreVeyon Henderson 1 prime earlier Chicago was connected nan clock, which pushed nan Bears to Burden instead. In existent time, nan move raised questions astir what benignant of domiciled Burden would have, and really galore opportunities he'd get successful Chicago's passing game.

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However, and arsenic Biggs noted, nan conception of Burden being a luxury prime depended connected perspective.

"Maybe Burden would person been a luxury prime for erstwhile coaching staffs," Biggs wrote, "but Johnson had a imagination for really to usage nan Missouri product, 1 he executed."

It's a awesome point; nether Johnson, location was a clear intent for really Burden would beryllium used. There's nary specified point arsenic a luxury pinch this coaching staff. Every move is purposeful, including nan Burden selection.

MORE: Chicago Bears' 2025 rookie people earns awesome ranking from ESPN

Rather than serving arsenic really bully depth, Luther Burden emerged arsenic a play portion of nan Bears' discourtesy from astir nan midseason people on. His explosiveness translated into morganatic usage. And we cognize really overmuch Johnson loves his playmakers.

#Bears WR Luther Burden III successful his rookie year:

• 124.5 targeted passer standing (5th for each WRs)
• 2.82 yards/route tally (3rd)
• 7.1 YAC per drawback (T-3rd)
• 78.6% targets caught (4th)
• 158.3 targeted passer standing connected heavy balls (T-1st)

Efficiency king. pic.twitter.com/Uddz6hCDCU

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) January 4, 2026

"It's a bully illustration of really grades and nan champion subordinate disposable should often trump need," Biggs wrote. It's an attack that paid disconnected for nan Chicago Bears successful 2025. Burden could very good beryllium nan Bears' WR1 successful 2026.