Former Mizzou WR Luther Burden III Drops Powerful Message to NFL Teams
As the Chicago Bears began non-contract drills on Friday to kick off rookie mini-camp, a number of first-year players met with media members.
Former Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden, a second-round selection (No. 39 overall) by the Bears in last month's NFL Draft, was one of them.
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When asked about falling to the second round, Burden issued a powerful message to the NFL teams that neglected to draft him earlier.
"That's staying with me forever," Burden told reporters.
"Everybody who passed up on me gotta pay."
38 players were selected ahead of Burden. From Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 8 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers, to Iowa State's Jayden Higgins, who went No. 34 to the Houston Texans, four wide receivers taken ahead of him.
Burden, a five-star recruit out of East St. Louis, dominated in his three seasons with the Tigers. In 38 games, he compiled 192 receptions for 2,263 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns - four via the ground.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III warms up during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall.Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Once a sure-fire early first-round selection, Burden supposedly slid a little among draft circles due to a decrease in production from 2023 to 2024.
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"He's always been the five-star, best player; and now he got humbled a little bit falling into the second round," Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz recently told Fox32 Chicago. "Ultimately I think it's the perfect situation for him, it's the right fit for him... If Chicago got a little bit more motivated Luther Burden, then look out NFL."
As for the jersey number he'll be wearing this fall, Burden, who wore No. 3 for Mizzou, will don No. 87 for the Bears. When asked why he chose that unusual number, Burden laughed and gave a six-word answer.
"All the good numbers are gone."
Related: Bears Fans Await Announcement on Former Mizzou WR's Jersey Number
Related: Mizzou Football Omitted from Another Post-Spring Ranking
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