Luther Burden III was supposed to be the guy going into this year’s Draft picks. The Missouri Tigers wide receiver, after all, has all the markings of a first-round pick. Burden’s 2023 season saw 86 receptions, 1,212 receiving yards, nine touchdowns, and a first-team All-SEC nod. He even went on to win the Biletnikoff Award semifinalist list.
Burden has even got five straight 100-yard games. When he has the ball, defenders know they are in trouble. However, something has changed. As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the name Luther Burden III is missing from the first-round conversations!
Why Is Luther Burden III Being Left Out of Mock Drafts?
Until a few months ago, Burden was locked in for the first round. Some experts even put him in the top 10 picks. But now, he’s nowhere to be found on the latest mock drafts from big names like Daniel Jeremiah, Mel Kiper Jr., and Dane Brugler. So what exactly happened?
luther burden III.
this is what it looks like!! pic.twitter.com/U1i6p19vEo
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) November 17, 2024
Well, Burden’s 2024 numbers tell a story. The 2023 stats are much higher than his 2024 ones. In 2024, he had only 61 receptions, 686 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. His rushing stats sure did improve (115 yards, two TDs), but for a player whose reputation rests on being an untouchable receiver, these dips cannot be ignored.
And as the world knows, NFL scouts are all about trends and Burden’s trend line isn’t exactly pointing up.
Of course, this is not all on him. Missouri’s quarterback situation has been questionable lately. And head coach Eli Drinkwitz didn’t always use his star, Luther Burden, the right way. Opposing defenses locked in on him, making life much harder. This is some Burden himself acknowledged.
“I feel like I’m pretty much a game plan for every team I face, so I mean, it’s not going to be easy getting me the ball. I knew that going into the games, so I was already aware,” Burden said during the NFL Scouting Combine.
That is fair, but in the cutthroat world of the NFL Draft, none of it is going to move the needle. However, one cannot simply ignore Burden.
Burden has 30 missed tackles in 2024. He’s also a 4.4-speed guy who can line up anywhere. And even has an average of 12.6 yards per punt return with one touchdown.
As Burden himself puts it, “I feel like the opportunities I was given, I just tried to make my opportunities count when I was given the ball this year.”
Despite all these stats, why the cold shoulder from draft analysts?
There are some concerns when it comes to Burden. There are rumors that his route-running needs refinement. And some even say that many of his touches were “manufactured.” There are also some vague talks about his attitude and work ethic. No public red flags exist, but in the NFL, even a whisper can impact your draft stock.
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There is no denying that Burden can be big for any team that drafts him.
However, the NFL is not simply about talent; it is also about perception. If he can crush his pro day and convince teams he’s more than just a college playmaker, his stock could rise again. But until then, he is this draft’s biggest what-if.
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