Image courtesy of University of Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Former Mizzou wide receiver Luther Burden III was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
Burden III was the 39th overall pick in the draft and the 14th Tiger chosen by the Bears. He also becomes Mizzou’s first wide receiver selected since J’Mon Moore went in the fourth round to the Green Bay Packers in 2018. With Burden III’s selection in the second round and offensive lineman Armand Membou being taken in the opening round on Thursday, MU had two NFL Draft picks taken in the top 40 for the eighth time in program history and for the first time since 2011 when Aldon Smith (No. 7) and Blaine Gabbert (No. 10) were chosen. Mizzou also achieve the feat in 2009 (Jeremy Maclin and Ziggy Hood), 1981 (Howard Richards, James Wilder and Eric Wright), 1977 (Morris Towns and Steve Pisarkiewicz), 1971 (Joe Moore and James Harrison), 1966 (Francis Peay and Butch Allison) and 1945 (Paul Collins and Bill Dellastatious).
Burden III, a 6-0, 205-pound St. Louis native, is a two-time First Team All-SEC selection and 2023 All-American. He registered 192 receptions for 2,263 yards (11.79) with 21 touchdowns in 38 career games (33 starts). He added 34 rushing attempts for 234 yards (6.88) with four scores and 24 punt returns for 252 yards (10.50) and one touchdown. The 2023 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist finished his career riding a 34-game consecutive reception streak, which ranked as the second longest in program history.
He tallied five-plus catches in 21 games and 100-plus receiving yards seven times throughout his Tigers career and scored 160 points on 26 touchdowns (21 receiving, four rushing and one punt return). Burden III carded a career-long 56-yard reception from QB Brady Cook in a contest with Memphis in 2023 and added a career-long 47-yard touchdown reception from Cook against Kansas State in 2023.
He teamed up with fellow wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. in 2023 and 2024 to become the first Mizzou duo to achieve 600-plus receiving yards in back-to-back seasons since Emanuel Hall and Johnathon Johnson did so in 2017 and 2018. He ended his career ranking fourth in receptions, tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns and sixth in receiving yards.
Burden III is the 16th NFL Draft pick to have played at Mizzou under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI