Some players are simply grateful to hear their name called on draft weekend. For others, being drafted isn’t enough — they want to be drafted high. When that doesn't happen, it plants a chip on their shoulder that never goes away. New Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden falls firmly into that second category.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, many analysts projected Burden as a first-round pick. Some experts even ranked him as the second-best wide receiver in the entire class. Burden shared those expectations himself. So when the first round concluded without his name being called, it would’ve been understandable for him to take the night off, vent frustrations, or simply be with family. Instead, Burden made a different choice — one that says everything about who he is.
Hitting the Gym Instead of the Party
Shortly after slipping out of the first round, Burden didn’t go to a party or host a get-together. Instead, he went straight to Missouri’s football facility to work out. When asked why he chose to spend his night training instead of celebrating like most players, Burden’s response was simple: he just wanted to work. While others were enjoying the moment, he was already thinking about how to get better — and he even planned to work out again Friday night after the Bears drafted him.
That decision tells you everything you need to know about Burden’s mindset. He isn’t worried about what’s already happened; he’s focused on making every team that passed on him regret it.
A Mentality the Bears Will Love
If you're the Bears — or just a fan — you have to love seeing this kind of maturity and drive from a young player. Burden, like fellow Bears draft pick Colston Loveland, is just 21 years old. Yet both are showing a level of maturity and hunger that is rare at that age, especially at wide receiver — a position often associated with big personalities and diva behavior.
Instead of sulking or soaking up sympathy from friends and family, Burden is putting in the work. He’s determined to prove the Bears right for selecting him with the 39th overall pick, and just as determined to make the rest of the league regret letting him slip through their fingers.
And that combination could be dangerous for everyone who doubted him.
Is Luther Burden the Steal of the Draft?
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