Luther Burden

Burden will enter a crowded wide receiver room alongside DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Burden will likely work primarily from the slot in Ben Johnson’s offense — a role Amon-Ra St. Brown thrived in during his time in Johnson’s system. A consensus five-star recruit who became an immediate true freshman contributor in 2022, Burden (6’0/206) peaked with an elite 86/1,212/9 receiving line in 2023. He regressed sharply along with the rest of the Missouri offense in 2024, suiting up for all 12 games but frequently limping on and off the field as he posted a 61/676/6 slash. For such an electric athlete, it can be mysteriously difficult to funnel Burden the ball. Neither his quarterback play nor play-calling was the most dynamic during his time in Columbia — short targets were the primary staple of Burden’s usage — but these were stacked overall teams in the rough-and-tumble SEC. Once Burden does get the rock, he reminds of Percy Harvin with a rolling ball of butcher knives YAC skillset. The Harvin comp, unfortunately, also extends to his proclivity for bumps and bruises. A limited route runner who not-so-secretly took the occasional snap off, Burden is nevertheless capable of easy separation. He’s a born playmaker with the ball in his hands. The main question is why it so often wasn’t at Missouri. Improved NFL coordinating and quarterback play could unlock what remains a tantalizing overall receiving package. Burden is a high-risk, higher-reward prospect who could end up a PPR monster with a consistent role in Johnson’s offense.