The Chicago Bears didn't feel like a team that was looking for wide receiver help in the 2nd round of the NFL draft. They already had Rome Odunze from the previous year and had just selected Colston Loveland a round earlier. Whispers suggested head coach Ben Johnson hoped to land running back help, particularly Treyveon Henderson of Ohio State. That dream died when he was selected 38th overall by New England. Undeterred, the Bears decided to stick to their board, scooping up wide receiver Luther Burden from Missouri.
It was a surprising pick. There were whispers of Burden being somewhat difficult to manage, not liking practice. That reputation is a significant reason why he didn't go in the first round, despite his considerable talent. The Bears didn't care. They felt he could transform into something special. Looking back, they were right on the money. Burden has become Chicago's most explosive weapon. In fact, according to Establish The Run, he now owns a record no other rookie has touched in the NFL's modern era.
Luther Burden is among the elitest company.
For those who are unfamiliar, Yards Per Route Run is an advanced metric that divides a receiver's total yardage by the number of routes they ran. It's meant to show how productive a player is based on the number of opportunities they get. The higher the number, the more dangerous the wide receiver is. That is why you often find the best wide receivers in the NFL sit atop the list. To help illustrate how ridiculous Burden has been this year, here are some other rookie numbers from some names you probably know.
- Odell Beckham Jr. - 2.75
- A.J. Brown - 2.67
- Justin Jefferson - 2.65
- Puka Nacua - 2.59
- Ja'Marr Chase - 2.51
Think about that. There is a strong probability that Jefferson and Chase will end up in the Hall of Fame. The same could be the case for Nacua if he keeps up his current pace. The fact that Luther Burden is in the same conversation as those guys should tell you everything. He isn't even getting the primary focus in the Bears' offense. That is certain to change in the near future. Add the fact that Caleb Williams will be his quarterback and Johnson his head coach, and there is no telling how high he can ascend.
