The time has come for the Bears to make Luther Burden III a full-time starter in the offense.
Olamide Zaccheaus opened the season as the starter in the slot, earning 16 targets through the first three games. And while he’s had his moments, Zaccheaus is averaging just five yards per target this season and is one of the least efficient receivers in all of the NFL.
Meanwhile, Burden continues to make the most of every opportunity. He caught all three of his targets against the Giants and is averaging over 12 yards per target this season. While the sample size is small, it’s clear the offense is better with him on the field, and it’s time for the Bears to make the change.
The Bears need to make Burden a full-time starter
When the Bears drafted Burden in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the belief was that he would be the full-time starter in the slot with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore outside. And while most of Burden’s snaps have come in the slot, he’s not been a full-time player yet this season. Week 10 was the first time all season he surpassed 20 snaps (33 vs. the Giants) in a single game this season.
In fairness, he has missed time with injuries, including a concussion that forced him to miss the Week 9 matchup against the Bengals. He also dealt with a hamstring injury during training camp, which slowed his start. But now that he is fully healthy, it’s time for the Bears to lean more on their dynamic rookie.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they ranked the top 15 rookies so far through the 2025 season. That list includes Burden, who ranked number six on the list. He’s currently the second-highest ranked rookie receiver behind only Tetairoa McMillan. Here is a snippet of what the site had to say about the former SEC receiver:
"The Missouri product has now caught 16 of 18 passes for 222 yards this season. He ranks fifth on the team in average depth of target (7.8), yet he is the only Bears receiver averaging more than two yards per route run (2.71). Burden also leads Chicago's receiving group in PFF receiving grade (77.5) and passer rating when targeted (136.6, minimum of 15 targets)."Pro Football Focus on Luther Burden III
It’s understandable why Ben Johnson would want to slow-play his rookie receiver, especially considering Zaccheaus has been a reliable NFL player. But with Johnson’s love for big plays, it only makes sense that Burden would get more looks, as he is incredible at making plays after the catch and has shown the ability to get down the field.
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Expect the slot position to remain a wide receiver by committee approach, but it would be a big mistake for Burden not to see more snaps moving forward in Chicago’s offense. Look for Johnson to find creative ways to get his young playmaker the ball in the second half of the season.