Luther Burden's edge will have Bears fans ready for an explosive offense

While Luther Burden III sat to talk to the Bears’ media over Zoom on Friday night, a series of words were on the wall behind him. 

At the top was “Mizzou” and directly under was “The Goal.”

Then three phrases followed:

“Chase 2 Dreams”

“Develop An Elite E.D.G.E”

“Play For Championships”

Last night, Burden showed that edge while answering questions, preferring to keep his responses short and to the point. 

Like many, including Burden, he thought he should have been selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That didn’t happen, and Burden went to work out on a Mizzou practice field to cope and brought his girlfriend with him to put footballs on the Jugs machine. 

"For my head,” Burden said. “Feels like an escape for me. Always has been. I feel like I needed to hit the field last night, you know, clear my head for today.”

Burden received clarity early on Day 2 of the draft when general manager Ryan Poles selected the playmaking wide receiver with the No. 39 overall pick in the second round. 

Last season, Burden caught 61 passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns while playing mostly in the slot. He also tied for first among wide receivers with 50 targets or more with his 30 missed tackles forced, according to Pro Football Focus. 

This was a down year from Burden’s sophomore season at Missouri, when he had 86 receptions for 1,209 yards and nine touchdowns. Burden mentioned there were a lot more “opportunities” in his sophomore season. 

Poles spoke to the media once the third round ended on Friday and was asked if he got a sense that Burden was disappointed that he wasn’t selected on Day 1. 

The Bears want Luther Burden to prove his doubter wrong

“Absolutely, absolutely,” Poles said. “I think anytime you’re in a situation where you feel like you got passed by, by certain teams for certain reasons, I do think that chip grows on your shoulder and it ignites a different type of work ethic, a different type of mentality. The key thing is capturing that and making sure that it carries on. It's not just, you know, a flash in the pan type thing. Can we consistently put that time, that effort, that work in, to be at a really high level? 

The beautiful thing about our situation, you come in, you have to compete. … Like you have to bring it if you want time on the field. And again, I think if I can't emphasize anything else, I'll go back to Ben's (Johnson) deal about being comfortable. There’s some guys that are going to have to grind a little bit harder than probably they ever have before. So I think it's going to push everyone to be really good.”

When Burden arrived to Halas Hall on Saturday, he appeared in a better mood than Friday night, excited to be a part of the Bears’ organization. He said not being selected on Day 1 was “pretty much behind him but it's always in the back of my head. You know, that teams chose other people above me. So, I'll see them.”

Before Burden looks forward to facing some of the teams that passed on him in the draft, he will first have to do his part to acclimate to Ben Johnson’s offense. One way that will help him to see the field is by committing himself to the run blocking game and embodying Johnson’s “No block, no rock” mentality. 

"I feel like it describes me best,” Burden said. “I feel like that's fair. You know, I mean you want the ball, but if you don't block for your teammate, there should be a consequence. I love to block, so they got no problem with me."

Burden is bringing an edge to Chicago and that might be what earns him playing time during his rookie season. Not only will he have to compete against Moore, Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus, but also first-round draft pick Colston Loveland, who is also capable of playing in the slot. 

It’s a challenge that Burden welcomes. 

“Learn the playbook, take it day by day, and just be me,” Burden said. “Do what I have been doing my whole life. Proving everybody wrong. That is my mindset.”