The Chicago Bears selected wide receiver Luther Burden III with the No. 39 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. He should have a large role this coming season. However, he at the very least faces legitimate competition in veteran and Bears offseason addition Olamide Zaccheaus.
Signed from the Washington Commanders in free agency this offseason, Zaccheaus showed well during the Bears’ offseason program.
That could easily bleed into the season.
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ESPN’s Bill Barnwell listed Zaccheaus among his picks for top “luxury players” around the league entering the 2025 season.
“There are certainly bigger names who might fall fourth on a depth chart at wide receiver,” Barnwell wrote on June 19, “but this is a spot where receivers are expected to do more than catch passes. Teams need their fourth and fifth wideouts to block in the run and screen games and still make an impact as a pass catcher when their number is called or when the top guys aren’t on the field.
“While Zaccheaus might have been something closer to the second or third wide receiver for the Commanders last season, he is expected to slot in behind DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and rookie second-round pick Luther Burden III in Chicago. Don’t be surprised if Zaccheaus is on the field more often than you would expect — coaches love him.”
Barnwell acknowledged that the 5-foot-8, 193-pound Zaccheaus is “undersized.” However, the soon-to-be 28-year-old is also an “aggressive” and “effective” blocker with the willingness to back it up.
The analyst also noted the Zaccheaus had issues with fumbles last season.
However, those came while Zaccheaus was returning punts. The Bears signed former Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars specialist Devin Duvernay to handle that role.
“I’m willing to write that off as a bit of a fluke,” Barnwell wrote, noting the veteran had one career fumble before that. “Zaccheaus won’t be the Bears’ wideout who sells the most jerseys this offseason, but he should be on the field plenty.”
Luther Burden III on Notice With Olamide Zaccheaus Prediction
Burden has not practiced, at least not in view of the media, since rookie minicamp with an undisclosed injury.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he expects Burden back for training camp. He also acknowledged that Burden missed out on “a lot” while sidelined.
“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. It’s not just the coaching staff having trust in you doing the right thing over and over, but it’s also your teammates. They got to be out there they got to see you do it. They got to know that the guy right, left of them, that they’re going to do the right things and they’re going to make the plays when called upon,” 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.”
The Bears will not have to release an injury report until the preseason.
Do not expect much clarification regarding the situation before then. That is even if and when Burden returns to the field during training camp. By then, the focus will be on how much ground he has to make up. Zaccheaus formed an early connection with Caleb Williams during the Bears’ offseason program.