3 best fits for Missouri Tigers WR Luther Burden III in the 2025 NFL Draft
Whenever Luther Burden III is on the field, all eyes are on him.
Even in games like Week 11 in a win against Oklahoma, where he had a pedestrian five catches for 55 yards to go with 10 yards rushing on two carries, his impact is immeasurable. Not to mention when the game was on the line, he pulled down an acrobatic 33-yard reception to set up Mizzou for a game-tying score.
2025 NFL Draft: What NFL scouts will like about Burden III
During the SEC Network broadcast, the announcers mentioned the Missouri playbook that features pages upon pages of how to get Burden III the ball in the offense, whether he's the first option, second option, or in the running game.
Be it short routes, deep routes, or jet sweeps, Burden III is a threat to take it the distance every time. If you look at the stats, he appears to have taken a step back from his 2023 campaign that put him squarely on the map. Last season, he had 1,197 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Through nine games in 2024, Burden III has 505 yards and four touchdowns, receiving to go along with a career-high 115 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just nine carries.
3 intriguing NFL fits for Luther Burden III
At 5-11, 205, Burden III fits the bill of a do-it-all receiver, a la Xavier Worthy, who has made an instant impact as a rookie in Kansas City. So, where does Burden fit in the NFL? Here are the top three potential landing spots for the Mizzou receiver:
Dallas Cowboys: While the 3-6 Cowboys continue to climb up the draft board into potential quarterback territory, at least for now, one must project the Cowboys to go with a non-QB with their first pick. CeeDee Lamb is one of the top receivers in the NFL, but after him is a WR room consisting of Jalen Tolbert, KaVonte Turpin, and recently traded for Jonathan Mingo. If the Cowboys do indeed stick with Dak Prescott long-term, adding a threat like Burden III would go a long way in maximizing the playmaking ability of the Dallas offense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A Buccaneers team that once seemed pretty deep at receiver has seen injuries take their toll in 2024, and now the futures of both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are unclear long-term. Godwin is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and Mike Evans will be in the same boat the following offseason. Burden could be the perfect piece to add next to Jalen McMillan to give Baker Mayfield a young receiving core to transition to after Evans/Godwin.
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Denver Broncos: The Broncos drafted their franchise quarterback in Bo Nix with the 12th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and now they need to invest in some young receivers to throw to. Courtland Sutton has been solid with 499 receiving yards in 2024, but after him, running back Javonte Williams is Denver's second-leading receiver. Can the Broncos gamble on young WRs Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Frankin taking the next step and becoming productive receivers, or will they look to the Draft to strengthen the corps with a guy like Burden? With the investment already made in Nix, it will be hard for Denver to sit by idly and let a talent like Burden slip through their fingers.