As Chicago Bears training camp begins tomorrow, all eyes are on rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III—and his unsigned contract. I recently posted on Twitter "Bears should just give Luther Burden a fully guaranteed contract. Camp starts tomorrow." The comment sparked plenty of debate, but it reflects my growing frustration with how slowly negotiations are moving.
Burden, a second round pick, is expected to sign a four year, $10.95 million deal, according to Spotrac. That’s standard for his draft slot. However, with many other second rounders landing contracts that are roughly 60%-95% guaranteed depending on the draft spot, the Bears reluctance to fully guarantee Burden’s deal seems unnecessarily cautious.
GM Ryan Poles is likely concerned about setting a precedent for future negotiations—a fair point in a league where every move is scrutinized. Still, we’re talking about a relatively modest amount of money for a player who could become a major weapon alongside Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson's offense.
The Bears have the money to make it work, and a fully guaranteed deal could send the right message to both the locker room and the fanbase. With camp kicking off, the last thing this team needs is a contract standoff overshadowing the start of a crucial season. The Bears should close the deal, get Burden on the field, and let him prove why he was worth the pick.
