The Chicago Bears have a flourishing offense in year two with Caleb Williams and year one under Ben Johnson. The offense as a whole isn't dominated by one receiver or running back; it's been a collective effort.
But Luther Burden III has been one of the best players as of late, and he's proven to be more than worth the second-round price tag this season.
ESPN analyst Ben Solak agrees that Burden has been worth it, naming the 39th overall pick to his first-team all-rookie team for the 2025 season alongside two first-round picks taken at least 20 spots ahead of him.
Luther Burden III named to ESPN all-rookie team for 2025
"It took time for Burden to get a foothold in Ben Johnson's thick and detailed playbook," Solak writes, "but as the game has slowed down for him, he has cashed in on his opportunities and carved out a bigger role, culminating with his career-best 138-yard performances Sunday night against the 49ers."
Burden went from an afterthought in this bear's offense to being the top receiver in just a few weeks. He started the year slowly, but in his seven games since the bye, he's been on a tear.
Across those seven weeks, Burden has 31 catches on 41 targets for 446 yards and one touchdown. While he could use some more scoring opportunities going forward, his production has been integral to the Bears' winning ways lately.
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Burden has more than filled in for Rome Odunze, and with a lackluster wide receiver class overall, he's more than deserving of the first-team rookie honors at wide receiver.
The other two players, Tetairoa McMillan and Emeka Egbuka, were taken at least 20 spots higher than Burden in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Not only did the Bears find a great rookie wide receiver, but they got him at a very great price in the second round. He's poised for a bigger role going forward, especially in 2026, as the Bears look to continue building off the impressive debut season for Johnson in Chicago.
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