The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone. After months of studying highlights, lowlights, and enough numbers to make an Excel spreadsheet blush, the names have been added to rosters across America.
Some of the names called out last week were a surprise, at least in terms of where and when they were picked. Quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart were two of the biggest surprises, but when it comes to ranking winners and losers from NFL Draft night, one more sneaky pick can be added to the list.
ESPN’s Matt Miller Names WR Luther Burden III His Top Draft Choice
ESPN’s Matt Miller had Luther Burden III ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in this year’s draft class, putting him ahead of dual-threat talent Travis Hunter. Further, the plugged-in analyst had the Missouri star rated as his 13th-best player in the entire NFL Draft.
“Burden was my top wide receiver in the class (I’m counting Travis Hunter as a two-way player), and he landed in a great situation with the Bears and new coach Ben Johnson,” Miller said. “Burden’s yards-after-catch ability is terrific, and Johnson’s scheme has been elite at creating space for wide receivers. Burden likely starts as a slot receiver with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze flanking him, but he thrived in that alignment at Missouri.”
One year after many experts argued that the Bears won the 2024 NFL Draft by nabbing Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze in the first round, Chicago now has a tentpole argument on their side in 2025 after selecting Burden in the second round at pick 39.
ESPNs Matt Miller ranked his top 100 NFL draft picks:
1. Bears-Luther Burden
4. Eagles-Jihaad Campbell
6. Jags-Travis Hunter
7. Bears-Colston LovelandThe Bears are the only team listed with two separate picks in the top 15. đź‘€ #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) April 30, 2025
Ben Johnson’s New Offense Has Weapons at WR
Burden wasn’t the only new offensive piece added to the Bears. Picked one round earlier, at No. 10 overall, former Michigan standout Colston Loveland will be joining veteran Cole Kmet to round out a fierce tight ends group in Chicago.
The Bears didn’t stop there, though. They also added offensive tackles Ozzy Trapilo and Luke Newman. As such, the team is pulling out seemingly every stop for Williams to succeed in his second season as the starting quarterback.
Put simply, the Bears are sending a message that expectations will be heightened for the 2025 season. If Williams fails to deliver winning football, it will be on him.
Of course, even with a flawed offense that finished 30th in PFSN metrics, Williams was able to show some flashes, finishing with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. Now he’ll get a chance to work with new head coach Ben Johnson — the offensive-minded guru who helped resurrect Jared Goff in Detroit — as he looks to take the next step forward.
“We’ve got to get on the same page because it’ll be a little bit different for him than what he experienced last year,” Johnson said, via the Bears’ website, “and if we can mesh together and start speaking the same language, that’s when things will really start to take off.”
