The Chicago Bears have now signed their entire 2025 NFL Draft class, with wide receiver Luther Burden III the final member of the seven-prospect group.
Burden’s deal comes one day after the Bears reached agreements with their two other second-round picks, linemen Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner. Burden was the highest selection of the trio, taken with the No. 39 overall pick.
Bears WR Luther Burden III Makes History With Rookie Deal
Luther Burden III Gets Fully Guaranteed Deal From Bears
“Chicago Bears reached agreement today with second-round pick WR Luther Burden III on a fully-guaranteed, $10.965 million contract, marking the first time in NFL history that the 39th pick has secured a fully-guaranteed deal, per the @WINSportsGroup,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on July 18.
Burden was lumped into a widespread standoff between rookie prospects and teams after the Houston Texans gave wide receiver Jayden Higgins (No. 34 overall) a fully guaranteed contract. The Cleveland Browns followed suit with linebacker Carson Schwesinger (No. 33).
Alfred Collins of the San Francisco 49ers broke the standoff, accepting less than a fully guaranteed deal, but still more locked-in money than the player selected in his slot in 2024.
That was Arizona Cardinals DB Max Melton, who got $6.9 million of his $8.9 million salary.
Collins is a defensive lineman taken with the 43rd pick. He received more than $9 million of his $10.3 million salary. That was expected to trigger the surge in deals among second-rounders and did just that on Thursday.
Notably, Burden and the Bears’ other rookies will report for training camp on July 19. That means the Bears got all of their prospects locked in before the “deadline”.
Now, they just need to have them all on the field.
Luther Burden III Missed ‘A Lot’ During Offseason Program
Burden was present and on the field early on in the offseason program during the Bears’ rookie minicamp. A soft-tissue injury sidelined him for the rest of the spring. This was despite Burden returning for at least one more session after suffering it.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson made no bones about Burden missing plenty of valuable reps with his injury.
“You’re losing valuable time. Valuable time with your coaches, valuable reps with your teammates, the ability to build the trust that we’re talking about,” Johnson told reporters on June 10. “It’s a shame that he got dinged up and missed all that time. Because for a young player, it’s really where you get the most reps, and you can get better in a hurry that way.”
Burden is not alone in that. Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland was the No. 10 pick in the draft. He has not participated in any contact drills since arriving. He had shoulder surgery in January.
Johnson is optimistic about getting Loveland back during camp. Loveland said his plan is to be ready for the start.
Johnson said he expects Burden to be present from the jump, too.