2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Luther Burden, WR Missouri

Luther Burden | © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Lewis Wood Posted On January 12, 2025

Luther Burden was seen as the devy WR1 after his 2023 collegiate season. However, a drop-off in quarterback play meant a disappointing 2024 season. Coming into the 2025 NFL Draft, Burden is still seen as a consensus first-round pick, but the hype is not the same as it was previously. However, he’s still primed to be a top-six pick in superflex rookie drafts.

Recruitment

Coming out of high school, Burden was one of the most highly touted prospects in the nation. He was the third five-star recruit to ever sign with Mizzou, choosing to stay in state after playing at East St Louis High School. In his class, Burden was ranked as the second best WR prospect in the nation. He received offers from prestigious schools like Alabama and Ohio State, but ultimately chose to stay at home in Missouri.

Collegiate Career

Burden’s collegiate stats courtesy of Sports Reference.

Burden started ten games in his freshman season and performed admirably, finishing with 45 catches for 375 yards and six touchdowns through the air, paired with two rushing touchdowns and a special teams touchdown. Burden’s nine total scores were the second highest among true freshmen in the SEC behind Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins.

Burden built on this in his sophomore season where he truly broke out, finishing with 86 receptions for 1212 yards and 9 touchdowns. This led him to finishing as a Biletnikoff Award semi-finalist (awarded to the best WR in all of college football), as well as First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-America honours. This solidified his status as the top receiver in the SEC in 2023 and the hype for Burden as the top receiver eligible for the 2024 draft grew even further. He reached the 100-yard receiving mark six times during the regular season, including posting five consecutive 100-yard receiving performances.

Excitement was growing for what he could do in his junior season, but it ultimately disappointed as the QB play at Mizzou dropped off starkly. His drop-off in production can be put down to Brady Cook only passing for 2535 yards, but it was still a shame to see him fall off from the growth pathway that you would have envisioned for a top WR prospect.

Strengths

Explosivity with his first step
Ability to win off the line of scrimmage and create separation early and easily
High-end athleticism, combining initial burst with above average long speed
Yards after the catch threat, with the ability to make defenders miss in the open field
Well-built frame despite smaller stature
Blocking ability and special teams versatility that should enable him to see the field early

Weaknesses

Sloppiness in route running – Burden has been able to win all throughout college with his explosivity and athleticism, meaning he sometimes exhibits laziness in his cuts and breaks
Lack of experience in press coverage
Lack of experience as a true outside receiver – while Burden has the tools to do this, he’s been used slot-only throughout college

Draft Value

Mock Draft history for Burden courtesy of Mock Draft Database.

Burden declares for the 2025 NFL draft with a lower stock than thought after the 2023 season, but still anticipated in the first round. He is projected as the WR2 in this class behind Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. His most mocked destinations at the time of asking are the Denver Broncos, becoming the YAC weapon that Bo Nix desperately needs, or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replacing Chris Godwin in the slot.

Throughout the past few years, we have seen some fantastic wide receiver classes. In 2024, we saw seven first-round receivers, compared to four in 2023, six in 2022 and five in 2021. Through the past six draft classes, there’s only been one year with less than three WRs drafted in the first round. The 2025 class could compare to that, with Mock Draft Database’s Consensus Big Board only containing three first-round receivers – McMillan, Burden, and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka.

Burden has a very good chance of being the second wide receiver selected, especially if he impresses at the Combine as anticipated. With fantastic athletic tools, he should be able to fit into most NFL offenses, especially as most utilise slot receivers frequently. If he can land in a spot with a smart offensive mind who is able to scheme him up effectively, Burden could actually be the “next Deebo Samuel” that we’ve been asking for the past few years.

Dynasty Outlook

DLF’s Consensus Rookie Rankings have Burden as the WR2 and the fourth overall prospect in this class. In 1QB drafts, Burden will be a very easy selection at the 1.03 or 1.04, dependent on your evaluation of the running back class. However, with a deeper RB class than at WR, I would recommend taking Burden early in the 1st and waiting on RB to double tap later on. In SF drafts, Burden sits at the point that all dynasty managers will struggle with – take the more elite positional prospect, or shoot for ceiling with one of the QBs. This is the question that we’re going to be trying to answer all summer.

Burden is certified as a first-round rookie pick this summer. Landing spot will be important (as it is with all players), but Burden could easily end 2025 as the most productive rookie WR if his athleticism and YAC ability can translate early.

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Lewis Wood

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Lewis is a Rams fan from the UK who is obsessive over dynasty leagues. League mates have accused him of being way too trade happy but it works out when you bring home titles!

You can hear more from Lewis on his YouTube channel 'Fantasy Pancake' https://youtube.com/@fantasypancake?si=U7BLlUCqY38dTsEv