Should the Chiefs draft Missouri’s Luther Burden III?

If available, the Chiefs should seriously consider taking the Mizzou stand out.

This week, the Kansas City Chiefs will have big decisions to make in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After an extensive evaluation process, the team will more than likely be selecting with the 31st pick of the first round — barring there is no trade-up or trade-back.

This offseason, the Chiefs aligned themselves with strategic free agent signings to avoid pinning themselves to draft for need, allowing them to take the best player available.

There are dozens of ways the Chiefs can go with the pick, and many have them looking to take a left tackle or defensive line prospect.

The team is still in need of long-term stability on the blind side, and pass rush is at a premium, so these are positions many have keyed in on the team potentially taking. This cycle’s wide receivers have been notably lackluster compared to years past, but there is one player who might pique the Chiefs’ interest.

Luther Burden from Missouri is one of the top receiver prospects in this draft class and a player who fits the Chiefs’ system well. A year ago, he was seen by many as a clear-cut first-round selection, but due to a dip in production, many mock drafts have recently had him falling to the back half of the first round or sliding to the second round altogether.

If Burden is still on the board when the 31st pick rolls around, the Chiefs should seriously consider selecting him and adding another dynamic skillset to their offense.

Player profile

Burden was a five-star prospect coming out of high school and ranked as one of the best players in the country by every national recruiting website. Burden elected to attend Missouri, and while there, he was a three-year starter and an electric playmaker.

Burden’s best season came in 2023, when he had over 1,000 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. His production dipped in 2024, due to multiple reasons, but he still managed to acquire his second consecutive First Team All-SEC nod.

Shortly after the season, Burden declared for the draft, and at the scouting combine in March, he showed his speed and testing measurables.

At 6’0” and 206 lbs., Burden is not the most lanky wideout in the world, but his 4.42 40-yard dash time more than fits the mold for a first-round talent at wide receiver.

Burden does have a more compact frame for a wideout, but he uses this to his advantage. His tape is littered with plays where he uses explosion, burst and play strength to win snaps and come away with contested catches.

A look at the film

Like most college superstars, it is hard to find an area where Burden struggled while at Missouri. His route running was top-notch, and his ability to track the ball and make contested catches rivaled anyone else in the draft class.

Burden’s body control and play strength are two of his strongest traits headed into the draft.

These are traits he has that must transfer to the pro level if he wants to find success due to his smaller frame. Some corners and other defensive backs may have the size and length advantage on him, but he has more than makes up for it with crafty route running and strong hands.

Burden lined up all over the field at Missouri, and they often used him with motion looks to manipulate defenses or help set up looks for his teammates. This constant movement was necessary during his 2024 season to avoid opposing teams keying in on him.

The motion also helped to display his creative route running and versatility.

One of the under-the-radar aspects of his game is when he can go from a subtle route into a full-on burst and acceleration. Teams who have tried to use longer, larger corners to try to press Burden at the line learned about his burst the hard way.

Most of the draft coverage around Burden has centered around what many think he won’t be able to do in the NFL, but the skill set he does provide would make him an excellent fit for the Chiefs.

Fit with the Chiefs

For years now, fans have clamored for the Chiefs to find larger wideouts capable of one-on-one routes and contested catches, and Andy Reid has proved time and time again that isn’t his style.

Reid wants receivers who can move, play multiple positions and line up anywhere. This is where he creates his mismatches, and where the element of surprise can keep opposing defenders guessing.

For many teams, Burden profiles a slot or a “gadget” player, and in Kansas City, the role will be very similar, but this is where the magic of what Reid could do with Burden comes into play, and where he could mesh with the Chiefs’ other playmakers — literally.

With Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce, Burden could find a spot as the player who can replicate a small aspect of the other three’s game. Burden has the speed to stretch the field with Worthy, he has the quickness and strength to play the power slot role opposite Rice, and he has the creativity and route running to pair with Kelce, giving an aspect of unpredictability to his game.

Burden dealt with mediocre quarterback play during his entire college career, but with a player of the caliber of Patrick Mahomes, he could finally reach his full potential.

The team may still have interest in adding a left tackle, but this year’s class will make the decision tougher. If Burden is in a position for the Chiefs to take him, they should. The offense is already close to being back to its 2018-20 form, and he could put them over the top.