Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was very complimentary of second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III, saying he is a player he would be buying stock in this season.
Ben Johnson Says to Buy Stock in Second Year WR Luther Burden III
Burden III is fully on the radar for being a player who could break out in 2026. A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson has high hopes for what Burden can do for the Bears this season and for the player he could become in the league. When asked about Burden in a media session at Organized team activities, Johnson raved about Burden.
“I’m buying Luther Burden stock right now,” Johnson said. “Just how he has approached this offseason, it’s been electric. He had numerous explosive plays, and I love how in phase two, he finished every rep that he took. He’s in a really good spot, he’s still developing his route tree, and coach El and Isaiah Ford have done a good job with him. He has been extremely coachable, and I’m really happy with him.”
While at Missouri, Burden was touted for his playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He was an explosive playmaker who had first-round talent. Burden went for over 1,200 yards as a sophomore at Missouri before a somewhat underwhelming senior season left scouts with mixed reviews on whether to be taken in the first round. Chicago ended up drafting Burden in the second round with the 39th overall pick last season. His rookie season, Burden showed flashes of what he could be in the Bears offense, playing with Caleb Williams, finishing with 42 catches, 642 yards, and a couple of touchdowns. Johnson spoke about the team’s vision for Burden and how helpful he could be to the team.
“When we drafted him, we saw an explosive athlete who was dangerous with the ball in his hands,” Johnson said. “The question was how could we get it in his hands. The easy thing to do is screens or short throws, but we felt like there is a lot more to his game that we have worked to unlock, and he has been really receptive to how to get that done.”
Burden said his focus this offseason was to get bigger, faster, and stronger, and get more familiar with the offense. When asked about Johnson’s comments about him, Burden said he was just trying to be the best player he could be.
“I just come to work every day and do my job to the best of my ability, and I leave the rest to everyone else,” Burden said in response to Johnson’s complimentary remarks about him.
Burden Pushing To Be Top Option on Bears’ Offense
After being one of the surprise teams of the 2025 season, the Bears will head into this season with real expectations. In the second year under Johnson, the Bears’ offense could reach new heights, as Johnson had done each season he was the Lions’ offensive coordinator. The skill position talent on offense is filled with high picks, with Rome Odunze being a top ten pick, Colston Loveland being a top ten pick, and Burden being a high second-round pick. There will be a lot of mouths to feed on the Bears’ offense, but the second year WR seems to have the early track of being the top playmaker on the team for 2026.
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