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The 2025 Chicago Bears offense was already going to be like something we’ve never seen before, thanks to head coach Ben Johnson paired up with year two of Caleb Williams. But after the first two picks in the draft brought tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III, Johnson will have even more options at his disposal for his offense.
Johnson loves exploiting mismatches with his offensive personnel, so with the ability to play two tight ends (12 personnel) or three wide receivers (11), we should see plenty of looks this season.
Loveland was often compared to Sam LaPorta, who racked up 889 receiving yards on 89 receptions as a rookie in 2023 with Ben Johnson as the play caller.
Burden’s yards after catch ability has been compared to Chicago’s DJ Moore, and as a rookie, Moore had 788 yards and 55 catches in Carolina for Norv Turner’s offense.
I doubt either rookie will approach those lofty numbers this season, but which one do you feel will have the most receiving yards in 2025?
Burden, as the primary WR3, will see his fair share of targets. In last year’s dysfunctional offense, Chicago rookie Rome Odunze, as the number three, was targeted 101 times.
As the primary U tight end, Loveland will definitely cut into that number, but tight end is typically the tougher position to learn. I have a feeling he’ll be asked to learn both inline and move tight end responsibilities, whereas Burden could just be working as the slot.
We’ll know more in camp where these two will be lining up, but for now, give me the explosive Burden to rack up more yards.
