NFL Rumors: Luther Burden III Could 'Be Drafted Lower' After 'Statistical Drop-Off'

Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III reportedly may be a candidate to fall in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Matt Miller, Burden may be a top-15 player in the draft in terms of talent, but he could "be drafted lower due to concerns NFL teams have about his statistical drop-off."

After making an impact as a freshman at Mizzou in 2022, Burden truly broke out in 2023, racking up 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns en route to being named an All-SEC First Team selection.

Expectations were high for Burden and the Tigers in 2024, but they largely failed to live up to them.

Missouri's passing offense struggled in particular, and some of that had to do with quarterback Brady Cook battling injuries throughout the season.

The Tigers threw for only 2,926 yards and 14 touchdowns as a team, and while Burden led the team in receptions (61) and touchdown catches (six), he was only second in the team with 676 receiving yards, meaning his 2023 yardage production was nearly cut in half.

Burden may have rebuilt some of his value at the NFL Scouting Combine, though, as he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds at 6'0" and 206 pounds.

Given his impressive speed, Miller suggested that Burden could be an impactful player as a rookie if he lands with a team that emphasizes pre-snap motion and gets him in space.

While it can be argued that there isn't a ton of top-end talent at wide receiver in this year's class compared to 2024 when Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze were top-10 picks, Burden is one of several wideouts with a chance to go in the first round.

Colorado's Travis Hunter is chief among them, but he may end up playing cornerback at the next level. Aside from him, Burden figures to battle with Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, Texas' Matthew Golden and Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka to be the top wideout off the board.

In the latest mock draft released by the BR NFL Scouting Department, Burden slipped outside the first round, while Hunter, McMillan and Golden were all selected.

If that comes to fruition in the actual draft, a team could have a massive steal on their hands with Burden in the second round.