If Luther Burden could have entered the 2024 NFL Draft, he might have been a first-round pick in a loaded class at wide receiver. During the 2023 season he finished second in the SEC in receptions (86, second to Malik Nabers), third in receiving yards (1,212; behind Nabers and another 2024 draftee, Xavier Legette) and third in touchdown receptions (behind yet another 2024 NFL draftee, Brian Thomas, and Nabers).
Last season was not nearly as good for Burden, with 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns, but he still declared for the 2025 draft. That drop-off in production, and some ultimately flimsy questions about his work ethic, led to him dropping to the second round and the Chicago Bears were happy to nab him at No. 39 overall.
As training camp looms, Bears' coaches have barely seen Burden on the practice field. A soft tissue injury during rookie minicamp sidelined him for all of OTAs and all of mandatory minicamp, and it's safe to say he has fallen behind in a sneaky battle for the No. 3 wide receiver role that's set to fully take place during camp.
College position coach reveals real reason Luther Burden fell in the draft
Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune recently did a multi-faceted deep-dive into Burden heading into training camp.
Hammond talked to Jacob Peeler, who arrived as Missouri's wide receivers coach the same time Burden set foot on campus. Regarding the drop-off in production last season, Peeler revealed a pretty easy reason along with another reason that wasn't necessarily widely-known yet.
"Peeler attributed Burden’s drop in production in 2024 to several things. Opponents made a concerted effort to stop him after his 1,200-yard season. Also, quarterback Brady Cook was dealing with a wrist injury that affected his throwing motion throughout the second half of the season."
"The one thing I was impressed with (Burden), he never let it get to him,” Peeler said. “He never got frustrated to the point where it was ever a detriment. Most receivers either always want the ball or otherwise they’re playing the wrong position. But he was a great teammate, never once got frustrated to the point that I even saw it.”
This isn't the first time this explanation for Burden's drop-off last season has been offered. On The Charter podcast with Clay Harbor back in May, Peeler said similar things about being the focal point for opposing defenses and Cook operating at less than full strength down the stretch.
Cook had a notable drop in yards per attempt and completion percentage last year, as well as 10 fewer touchdown passes over only one fewer game compared to 2023. The reason for his drop-off had been unclear, but Peeler has revealed a pretty good reason for it and as a residual the biggest reason Burden's production fell so much.
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Time will tell if the Bears got a draft steal in Burden. We do know he's plenty motivated to make the teams that passed on him regret it, which is a good start.