If not for a down final college season at Missouri, which was driven by regression from his quarterback, Luther Burden might have been a first-round pick last April. As it was, the Chicago Bears got a first-round caliber talent with the 39th overall pick, and Burden was plenty motivated by his draft fall.
After a blowout loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 2, head coach Ben Johnson revealed some intention to get Burden and fellow rookie Colston Loveland more involved. In the following game against the Dallas Cowboys, that came to some fruition for Burden despite still not seeing a lot of snaps.