Bears' Burden: Teams 'gotta pay' for passing on me
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III says the teams that passed on him are on notice after he fell out of the first round of the NFL draft.
Burden was projected to be among the first receivers to hear their name called last month but was passed over by most of the league. The Chicago Bears ultimately drafted Burden 39th overall in the second round.
The Missouri product isn't about to let the league forget that five wideouts were chosen ahead of him prior to this selection.
"No, that's staying with me forever," Burden said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "Everybody who passed up on me gotta pay."
The Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland in the first round, marking the first time in the common draft era that the franchise used its first two selections on pass-catchers.
Burden was surprised at being selected by the Bears after not interacting with the club in the lead-up to the draft.
He's joining a talented receiving corps headlined by DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. The 21-year-old will compete for a role in a new-look offense under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. He'll also aim for a role as the team's punt returner.
The rookie is expected to be another target for 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams. Burden said in April his pairing with the second-year quarterback is "the perfect fit," according to CBS Sports' Jori Parys.
Burden's numbers dropped in 2024 after he posted 86 catches for 1,212 yards, and nine touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023.