Ben Johnson chose not to go all in on hunting a head coaching gig in 2024. He instead returned to the Detroit Lions for a season and waited until 2025 to become the head guy for the Chicago Bears. Maybe Johnson saw that the Bears had the right quarterback in place with Caleb Williams, but Williams didn't have many weapons to help him.
That changed in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft as Chicago chose Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden. Sure, Williams is going to be happier, but so will Johnson. He is an offensive-minded coach and needs quality players for his system to run well.
By taking Burden, the team is helping Johnson follow up on a promise he made to the team in his first meeting as head coach. He didn't just want to win. He wanted to win "by a lot." This seemed somewhat laughable at the time and simple coach-speak. No one is laughing now.
Ben Johnson has to be smiling after the Bears chose Luther Burden in the second round
Burden is 6 feet and 206 pounds, and he ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He was more productive as a junior in college, but only because SEC defenses had figured out that if they somehow slowed Burden, they could beat Missouri.
But there is a secret part of Burden's game that Johnson is going to have fun with. He can line up in the backfield at times, Deebo Samuel-style. Is he going to run the ball as much as Samuel? No, but the threat of Burden's ability and his versatility are going to help Johnson's offense run at maximum efficiency.
The NFC North is currently quite challenging, and Chicago still has a way to go before it can compete for a division title, but it is certainly taking a leap forward in the draft. The Bears are also young with an innovative head coach. Once they understand who they are, the team should perform well for years.
Burden's is also a perfect fit in Johnson's offense. He is going to help prove Johnson's promise, and Bears fans should be elated with what Chicago did with the 39th pick in the 2025 draft.