Luther Burden’s Time Is Now: Rookie WR Poised for Bigger Role in Bears’ Offense
If Luther Burden had been eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft, there’s a good chance his name would've been called on Day 1. But the rules said he had to stick around Missouri one more year, and after a quieter final college season, he slipped into the second round - right into the hands of the Chicago Bears at pick No. 39.
That pick might be aging pretty well.
Burden’s rookie season has been a slow burn - flashes of his immense talent have been there, but the full picture hasn’t quite come together yet. Early in the year, he was buried on the depth chart and working limited snaps.
Then came a concussion that sidelined him for a game, further delaying his development. But lately, the Bears have started giving him more of a runway.
Over the past three games, Burden has drawn 16 targets and has been on the field for just over half of the offensive snaps in each of the last two. That’s a clear sign of growing trust from the coaching staff - and a hint that they’re ready to see what he can do with more volume.
So far, the production hasn’t fully caught up to the opportunity. Burden hasn’t topped 50 receiving yards since Week 10 against the Giants and has been held under 40 in two of the last three games. But with five games left in his rookie campaign - and a major shakeup in the Bears’ receiving corps this week - the door is wide open for Burden to make a statement.
A Clear Path to WR2
Rome Odunze, the Bears’ dynamic rookie wideout who came out of the gates hot with five touchdowns in the first four games, has hit a bit of a wall. A lingering heel/foot issue has slowed him down in recent weeks, and after missing all of practice this week, he’s officially out for Sunday’s divisional clash against the Packers.
Even while dealing with the injury, Odunze has remained a major part of the offense - logging at least six targets in six of the last seven games and playing 88% of the offensive snaps on the season. That’s a huge hole to fill.
DJ Moore will naturally slide into the WR1 role, but someone else has to step up into that secondary spot. That someone is Luther Burden.
With Odunze sidelined, Burden is in line for a significant uptick in playing time and targets. Olamide Zaccheaus will see more action too, but Burden is the one with the higher ceiling and the skill set that could really shine in this matchup.
A Matchup That Plays to His Strengths
This week’s opponent, the Green Bay Packers, play zone coverage at one of the highest rates in the NFL - 77.5% of the time, according to Stat Rankings. That’s a key detail because Burden has quietly been one of the more effective receivers in the league against zone coverage.
Among wide receivers with at least 10 targets versus zone this season, Burden ranks second in average yards of separation (2.68) and is tied for 16th in yards per route run (2.5). Those are impressive numbers for a rookie who hasn't even been a full-time player yet. He’s showing the kind of spatial awareness and route nuance that often takes young receivers a year or two to develop.
And here’s where things get even more interesting: Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has struggled against zone this season - all five of his interceptions have come against that coverage look. So what’s the antidote?
Targeting a receiver who knows how to find the soft spots in zone and create space. That’s Burden.
The Rookie Moment We've Been Waiting For?
It’s not uncommon for rookie wideouts to take a while before everything clicks. Training camp reps matter, and Burden missed a chunk of that time due to injury. But now, in Week 14, with Odunze out, the Bears in a playoff push, and a rivalry game against the Packers on deck, the stage is set.
Burden has the route-running chops, the quickness, and the trust of his quarterback to make a real impact. The Bears don’t need him to be a superstar overnight - but they do need someone to step up and make plays. All signs point to Burden being that guy.
The opportunity is here. Now it’s up to Burden to seize it.