Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III walked onto Soldier Field wearing orange and blue for the first time, and Chicago Bears fans could almost feel the anticipation in the air. They’d waited to see what the rookie receiver would do with his first shot. With head coach Ben Johnson giving most starters the night off, this preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins was all about the new guys, and everyone wanted to see if Burden was as advertised.
How Will Luther Burden III Change the Chicago Bears’ Offense in 2025?
The Bears began the 2025 NFL season by hosting the Miami Dolphins for a preseason matchup at Soldier Field. Right from the start, Chicago fans knew Johnson planned to keep most of his starters on the sideline. Instead, he focused on giving valuable snaps to rookies and players battling for bigger roles this fall.
Among those new faces, Burden got the loudest first-half reaction. The rookie wide receiver did not disappoint in his preseason debut for the Bears.
Quarterback Tyler Badget, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and now listed as the backup to Caleb Williams, helped set the tone early. Badget connected with Burden for his first NFL reception, a 16-yard play that moved the chains and drew more cheers from the home crowd.
This fit right in with the Bears’ offseason approach. Chicago has worked hard over the past few seasons to overhaul its attack. The team traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 2024 season, then used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft on Williams.
Additionally, the Bears drafted tight end Colston Loveland with their first-round pick in 2025, No. 10 overall. That move doubled down on surrounding Williams with new offensive weapons and reinforced Chicago’s commitment to building a dynamic group around its young quarterback.
Tyson Bagent hits rookie Luther Burden III on 3rd & long!
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Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/QAAB8YnwWA— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
Burden, the dynamic playmaker from Missouri, was selected in the second round. Back in high school, he was a five-star recruit, named MaxPreps Player of the Year, and entered Missouri as the school’s highest-rated receiver prospect ever.
At Missouri, Burden made an instant impact and stayed in the mix even through a few injuries that slowed him down as a junior. He wrapped up his college career with 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns, along with 234 rushing yards and four rushing scores.
Now, Burden is generating buzz as a potential fantasy football sleeper. According to Kyle Soppe from PFSN, three rookie wideouts each averaged more than 15 points per game last season, though none were ranked as the top prospect in their class. Soppe thinks Burden could have a similar breakout in 2025.
“I’m not worried about Burden’s skill set, which is why I’ve penciled him in as a top-50 receiver. His athletic profile is elite, and his ability to catch the ball away from his body projects very well at the professional level,” Soppe noted.
He also pointed out that while Burden showed the ability in college to stretch the field and rack up big yardage, it remains to be seen whether he can do that against pro defenses.
