2025 Rookie Profile: Luther Burden III

2025 Rookie Profile: Luther Burden III (WR) Missouri

Welcome to the 2025 fantasy football season. FullTime Fantasy‘s annual rookie reports next present 2025 Rookie Profile: Luther Burden III, the standout wide receiver from Missouri.

Resume

Luther Burden III, a wide receiver from Missouri, entered college as one of the most heralded recruits in the 2022 class. A consensus five-star prospect out of East St. Louis Senior High School, he was ranked as the No. 1 receiver nationally by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports and the No. 6 overall player per 247Sports Composite.

Named MaxPreps National Player of the Year, Burden dominated his senior season with 71 receptions for 1,174 yards and 20 touchdowns. Choosing Missouri over Alabama and Georgia, he became the Tigers’ highest-rated receiver signee in program history and only their fourth five-star recruit in the past two decades.

At Missouri, Burden earned First-Team All-SEC honors in 2023 and 2024, Second-Team All-America in 2023, and was a 2023 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist. He declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after his junior season.

College Stats

Burden’s 2023 season was a breakout, with 1,212 receiving yards ranking third in Missouri single-season history and five consecutive 100+ yard games, a feat only one other Tiger has achieved. His 2024 production dropped due to a combination of shoulder/arm injuries, an undisclosed illness, and a regressed Missouri passing game (team passing yards fell from 3,671 in 2023 to 2,535 in 2024). Despite this, he maintained an 85.9% catch rate and faced heavier defensive attention.

2022 (Freshman): 45 receptions, 375 yards (8.3 YPC), 6 receiving TDs; 18 rushes, 88 yards (4.9 YPC), 2 rushing TDs; 24 punt returns, 251 yards (10.5 avg), 1 punt-return TD

2023 (Sophomore): 86 receptions, 1,212 yards (14.1 YPC), 9 TDs; 13 rushes, 75 yards (5.8 YPC); started all 13 games

2024 (Junior): 61 receptions, 676 yards (11.1 YPC), 6 TDs; 9 rushes, 115 yards (12.8 YPC), 2 TDs; started 10 of 12 games

Career Totals: 192 receptions, 2,263 yards (11.8 YPC), 21 TDs; 40 rushes, 278 yards (7.0 YPC), 4 TDs; 24 punt returns, 251 yards (10.5 avg), 1 TD

Measurables

Burden’s measurables reflect a compact, explosive athlete. His below-average height and arm length limit his catch radius, but his elite speed and agility shine in open-field scenarios. Smaller hands are a minor concern, though his drop rate (3.5% over his final two seasons) suggests reliable ball skills.

Height: 5-11

Weight: 206 pounds

Arm Length: 31.25”

Hand Size: 8.5”

40-Yard Dash: 4.41 seconds (95th percentile)

10-Yard Split: 1.54 seconds (90th percentile)

Vertical Jump: Not publicly reported

Broad Jump: Not publicly reported

Other: Elite speed score (88th percentile), 28% career target-per-route-run rate (3rd in 2025 WR class), 0.49 missed tackles forced per reception.

Luther Burden III’s a TOP 15 Prospect

➖10 Yard Split: 1.55 (8.32)
➖20 Yard Split: 2.58 (8.53)
➖40 Yard Dash: 4.42 (9.18)

His speed continuously improved and Burden looked SO smooth during the Gauntlet Drill.

➖Height: 6’0
➖Weight: 206 lbs

Burden had 0 Drops, ELITE HANDS.. pic.twitter.com/CqgqbeuX8D

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) March 1, 2025

NFL Fits

Burden projects as a versatile, dynamic weapon best suited for offenses that prioritize yards-after-catch (YAC) ability and manufactured touches. His slot-heavy college usage (81%+ of snaps in 2023-24) and limited experience against press coverage suggest an initial role as a slot receiver, though his athleticism hints at outside potential with development. Teams that could maximize his skill set include:

Arizona Cardinals: Despite taking Marvin Harrison Jr. in Round One last year, the Cardinals still need more weapons. Burden would be an upgrade over Michael Wilson and would have the flexibility to play outside in two-wide sets, or move into the slot in three-wide.

Houston Texans: The Texans are expected to address their sagging offensive line in the first round. However, Houston has little depth opposite Nico Collins. With Christian Kirk in the slot, Burden would instantly be the team’s No. 2 wideout and a massive upgrade.

San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, which thrives on YAC and pre-snap motion, aligns perfectly with Burden’s ability to turn short passes into big gains. However, Burden would have to slide out of the first round for this to be a realistic landing spot.

NFL Comparison

Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers)

Burden shares striking similarities with Samuel, both in build (Samuel: 6-0, 215 pounds vs. Burden: 5-11, 206) and playstyle. Like Samuel, Burden is a compact, explosive athlete who thrives with the ball in his hands, combining elusiveness, contact balance, and breakaway speed to turn short touches into chunk plays.

Both excel in schemed touches—screens, sweeps, and backfield alignments—while offering punt-return value. Samuel was more polished coming out of South Carolina, with a broader route tree, but Burden’s college production (192 receptions vs. Samuel’s 148) and superior 40-time (4.41 vs. 4.48) suggest comparable or greater upside. Burden’s occasional lapses in effort (e.g., jogging clearout routes) and limited experience against press coverage mirror early critiques of Samuel, who developed into a star with coaching.

If Burden refines his route-running and consistency, he could emulate Samuel’s role as a versatile, high-impact WR2 with WR1 flashes.

Luther Burden had more broken tackles after the catch last season (30) than 1st downs (29) per @PFF_College

Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before for a full season

— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) April 3, 2025

Evaluation

Burden is a polarizing prospect due to his 2024 regression and specialized college role, but his tape reveals a dynamic playmaker with elite YAC ability and untapped potential. His freshman versatility (rushing, receiving, and return TDs) and sophomore dominance (1,212 yards, 9 TDs) showcase a high ceiling, while his junior year suggests situational challenges rather than diminished skill. He separates effortlessly with twitchy footwork and explosive bursts, tracks the ball well, and wins contested catches despite his frame.

However, his route tree needs expansion, and he must prove he can handle physical NFL corners, especially outside. Effort concerns (e.g., low-intensity blocking) and maturity questions linger, though they’re not universal red flags. Projected as a late first-round to early second-round pick, Burden’s floor is a high-end complementary weapon, with the ceiling of a featured receiver in the right system. His Combine performance (4.41 40, smooth drills) and competitive drive keep him in the WR1 conversation for 2025, though he’s best suited as a WR2 early in his career.

Other Rookie Profiles

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