A core part of drafting successfully in the NFL is finding value. Put another way, it means adding players at a later pick who probably should've gone much earlier. It happens every year. The better teams always seem able to take advantage of players who fall further than they should. It felt like the Chicago Bears couldn't take advantage of this for the longest time due to poor evaluations and team-building strategies. It appears that the process has finally changed under GM Ryan Poles.
He has reiterated time and again since taking over that his goal in every draft is to stick to the board. That means taking the best players, even if they might not be at positions of glaring need. Last week might've been the best example yet of this approach. Nobody considered tight end a big concern going into the 1st round. That didn't stop the Bears from taking Colston Loveland 10th overall. However, Matt Miller of ESPN believes the crowning moment for Poles came 24 hours later when he made the #1 pick of the expert's top 100.
1. Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears (Pick 2-39)
My final overall ranking: No. 13
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. 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.
Ryan Poles stuck to his board when it mattered.
The story behind Burden is an all-too-familiar one. Chicago had been targeting Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson in the 2nd round. They were trying to trade up for him. Unfortunately, they couldn't find a taker. New England ended up taking Henderson at #38. Rather than panic and trade down as some teams might, Poles stuck to his board. It was clear as day that Burden was the most talented player left on the board. His skill set drew comparisons to D.J. Moore and Deebo Samuel.
The primary concern was Burden's work ethic. Critics of bad practice habits that followed him from college, along with an iffy interview process, likely scared some teams away. Ryan Poles loved the talent. Could he trust head coach Ben Johnson and wide receiver coach Antwaan Randle El to get the young man focused? They encountered the same challenges with Jameson Williams in Detroit. That worked out well. One must remember that Burden is only 21. Chicago feels he has a chance to be special once he matures.
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