The 2025 NFL Draft is nigh. Whether or not Luther Burden III hears his name called in the first round tomorrow is anyone’s guess.
The former Missouri receiver is an excellent prospect who suffers from the immense depth at the position. Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, and Emeka Egbuka are likely to be called first. Perhaps Burden will find himself the fourth receiver at the podium. He certainly has a case for it. Let’s dig into his draft profile.
Physical Traits
At six feet tall and 206 pounds, Burden III has the kind of size that screams slot receiver. That’s likely not the case, but we’ll get into that more later. His 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the combine was an 81st percentile mark for wide receivers. It backs up the burning speed he showed on his tape. The short-area movement scores were less inspiring, another sticking point in his tape.
Perhaps the most important figure measured was his hand and arm size. His 8.5-inch hands place him in the 14th percentile amongst all receiver prospects, and his arm measurements were only in the 36th percentile. It’s another point to the doubters that he can play on the outside. But where he lines up cannot be determined by measurements alone.
College Film
In his true sophomore campaign, Burden III looked every bit the top-ranked high school receiver recruit Missouri snagged in 2021. He racked up 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. The tape showed a dominant athlete who excelled at winning across the middle and as a deep threat. Burden III often created chunk plays after the catch and won at the catch point with regularity, reeling in a stellar 85.9% catch rate.
His disappointing junior year took some shine off his pro prospects. Burden III regressed along with the entire Missouri offense, posting 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns. On top of that, he battled injuries and illnesses, though they didn’t keep him out of any games. His performance against Alabama (three catches for three yards) raised even more concerns.
Ultimately, I side with the sophomore tape being closer to the true Luther. He’s too explosive to keep under wraps without extenuating circumstances. The rumors that he is a “diva” sound a bit silly. And even then, is there an elite receiver in the NFL who doesn’t have a flair for the dramatic?
NFL Comparisons
Realistic Comp: Brandin Cooks – Okay, a realistic comp being a six-time 1,000-yard receiver may seem drastic. Not to disparage Cooks, but I doubt Burden III finds himself in the passing offenses Cooks found himself in. A shorter receiver who consistently won with speed and great hands, Cooks was an equal threat down the field as he was on intermediate routes. Cooks was productive and consistent, but not an alpha #1 target type. A high-end WR2 with yearly potential for 1,000 yards and a handful of scores feels realistic.
Ceiling Comp: A.J. Brown – Now here’s where we get spicy. Brown has been one of the best receivers in football since entering the league. His physicality, strong hands, and elite YAC abilities helped him overcome a lack of true outside receiver height. That sounds like somebody we know. When I see Burden III bouncing off tacklers and making secondaries look silly with the ball in his hands, Philly’s #1 receiver comes to mind.
Potential Landing Spots: Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders
