The Chicago Bears traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills this offseason. That move sent a pretty clear message: they believe Luther Burden is ready to be the guy.
Burden didn’t exactly light the league on fire as a rookie. Through 15 games, he caught 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad, but not the kind of numbers that make defensive coordinators lose sleep. But look closer at how his season played out and you’ll see why people around the NFL think he’s about to take off.
Here’s the thing about Burden’s rookie year. Through his first seven games, he had three or more catches only twice. Over his final eight games? He never had fewer than three. That late-season surge coincided with him building real chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams. By December, those two were on the same page in a way they weren’t in September.
Analysts Are Piling On
ESPN’s Peter Schrager was asked recently to pick one player poised to make a big leap in 2026. He didn’t hesitate.
“I like the way they used Burden last year down the stretch,” Schrager said. “I feel like with DJ Moore being gone, that’s more Luther Burden than Colston Loveland or Rome Odunze. Caleb and him had something there.”
That’s notable because the Bears have other weapons. Odunze was a top-10 pick. Loveland is a highly touted tight end. But Schrager sees Burden as the primary beneficiary of Moore’s departure.
Super Bowl-winning cornerback Jason McCourty agreed. And he pointed to something that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet.
“His head coach Ben Johnson has been talking glowingly about him this offseason,” McCourty said. “To me, he has some of that it-factor when it comes to ability on the field and also attitude off the field. He just comes across as a guy that believes he is that dude and he should be a number one guy.”
McCourty specifically mentioned Burden’s willingness to block and do the little things. That matters. Coaches trust receivers who do the dirty work, and that trust usually translates into more targets.
The Path Is Clear Now
Burden’s usage changed dramatically as his rookie season went on. He was an afterthought early, then became a consistent part of the game plan. Now Moore is gone and the Bears didn’t bring in a veteran replacement. The depth chart says Burden is the No. 1 option.
The coaching staff believes in him. Ben Johnson hasn’t been shy about praising Burden this spring. The quarterback trusts him. And the route to targets is completely open.
All that’s left is for Burden to prove he’s the player Chicago thinks he is. If the analysts are right, the Bears might have found their long-term answer at wide receiver without having to draft one in the first round.
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