It only takes watching a few plays to understand what makes Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III so special. Burden was all over the field for the Tigers in 2023, racking up 1,212 yards, 86 receptions, and nine touchdowns in his sophomore season. This is a substantial uptick from his freshman year when he finished with just 375 yards, 45 receptions, and six touchdowns.

Burden is a top WR prospect on the 2025 Consensus Big Board, and it’s easy to see why.

What about him warrants a high grade?

Checking all the boxes

Whether it’s his explosiveness off the line or acceleration after the catch, Burden can beat defenders with his exceptional speed. His “second gear” after the catch was the first thing that jumped out to me when I began evaluating his 2023 tape; he is easily a 4.4 receiver.

Burden is great at the point of catch with elite body control. He has strong hands and knows how to flash them late on a rep. He repeatedly showed the ability to high-point the ball and win 50/50 passes (which are thrown up and both the receiver and defensive back have equal opportunity to catch).

Burden has also emerged as the team’s top option in 2023, upping his targets from 71 in 2022 to 122 in 2023. In 2022, he hauled in 45 of those targets (63.3%), and in 2023, that went up to 86 receptions (70.4%).

The “DAWG” in him

Another one of Burden’s great strengths is how difficult he is to tackle. Burden refuses to go down and uses his frame well to stay on his feet and fight for extra yardage.

Burden has clear passion and hunger for the game, showing emotion following a lot of his plays, both good and bad. He is a player who demonstrates he wants to win, an under-appreciated trait in prospects.

The combination of Burden’s speed and difficulty to tackle not only makes him a great receiver but also introduces another facet to his game that makes both him and his offense much more versatile.

Deebo Samuel’s “Wide Back”

During the 2022 NFL playoffs, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel coined the term “Wide Back,” referring to his use on the field as both a receiver and a running back.

I believe Burden can fit this mold at the NFL level.

Burden is highly effective out of the backfield and caught many of his receptions behind the line of scrimmage. He is a yards-after-catch (YAC) monster. That’s what makes Burden so special. Not only is he a dominant receiving threat who can win anywhere on the field, but he can consistently make something out of nothing. You can never ignore him. Whether it’s sweeps, screens, options, etc., Burden allows immense creativity in the playbook.

Jaccoma’s Bottom Line

Can he help an NFL team win? – Yes.

Burden is a playmaker who can use his receiving talent to produce difference making results.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

#3 Luther Burden III 5-foot-11 , 208 pounds

Philip Jaccoma Jr.’s 2024 Summer Grade: First-Round

Projected by 95.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of June 19, 2024 (2025 Consensus Big Board)

Game film reviewed (2024): Kansas State, Vanderbilt, LSU, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas

Highly athletic with natural instincts for the game. Establishes route leverage quickly with explosiveness, speed, and hand-fighting. Fluid hips allow for a quick change of direction. Has coveted “stop-start” ability. Complete three-level (short, intermediate and deep) threat who also wins out of the backfield often. Superb ability at point of catch and is usually in control of defensive back. Plays predominantly out of slot, and knows how to get open. Still question his ability to handle physical NFL cornerbacks. No alarming injury history.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. Consistent production as the team’s top option
2. Continued improvement and refinement of route-running
3. Repeated success against cornerbacks using his speed

Philip Jaccoma Jr. is a rising junior at Rutgers University, pursuing a major in Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Sports Management. As well as being an aspiring writer and draft analyst for FirstRoundMock.com, he is a sports writer for his school’s student newspaper, The Daily Targum, and a sports broadcaster and producer for WRSU-FM, Rutgers radio. To view more of Philip’s work, follow @PJaccoma on X.