From the moment the Chicago Bears selected wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, fans knew that quarterback Caleb Williams just got another insane weapon on offense. There's more to Burden's game than just burning corners.
Bears reporter and NFL Draft analyst Jacob Infante shared on X some impressive stats for Burden that will sum up his great play so far in preseason. The best part about them is it's not just the catches or yards he's picking up, it's what he's doing when the ball isn't in his hands.
- 5 catches on 6 targets
- 78 receiving yards (15.6 YPC)
- 78.8 PFF grade
- 88.5 run-blocking grade
- 7.4 YAC per catch
- 2 key blocks on rushing TDs
- 118.8 passer rating when targeted
#Bears rookie WR Luther Burden III through two preseason games:
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 18, 2025
• 5 catches on 6 targets
• 78 receiving yards (15.6 YPC)
• 78.8 PFF grade
• 88.5 run-blocking grade
• 7.4 YAC per catch
• 2 key blocks on rushing TDs
• 118.8 passer rating when targeted pic.twitter.com/jkKgeOm8ZO
Burden might end up being a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year
The play of Burden was a big topic of discussion during the broadcast of the Bears' 38-0 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. FOX analyst Greg Olsen mentioned on the broadcast how Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he thinks Burden could end up being just as good, if not better, than DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
Going into training camp, there was a lot of concern over Burden because of his soft tissue injury that kept him out of the Bears' offseason workouts. When Burden hit the field at training camp, he made quite the impression on everyone.
Everyone has been gushing over Burden's blocking abilities, and showing he's willing to do the dirty work to help his team. That type of attitude is what is going to get him rewarded with targets during the season.
Fans were expecting Burden to be a good receiver, but he appears to be exceeding everyone's expectations and more. He might be the number four receiver on this team, but he could eventually find a way into the starting lineup because he's too good to have on the bench.
Read more: NFL analyst's two word response to Caleb Williams' start tells the whole story
The regular season hasn't started yet, but the excitement surrounding Burden is real and it's justified.