Bears’ potential 2026 breakout star after strong OTAs showing

The Bears’ offensive resurgence began with the 2024 NFL Draft. They took Williams first overall and gave their new quarterback a shiny new toy in Odunze, a receiver who was drafted with pick nine. The team has not stopped adding offensive talent in the years since, though. In 2025, the team again used their first two picks on offensive skill players. Colston Loveland was drafted 10th overall, and Luther Burden was taken at pick 39.

Both players were contributors as rookies, but there is more room for Burden to grow. Loveland already led the Bears in receptions (58), receiving yards (713), and receiving touchdowns (six). Burden’s 47 catches for 652 yards were solid marks for a first-year player, but he has the potential to do much more.

The Missouri product is a physical receiver who thrives with the ball in his hands. He should rack up great production in year two because of his ability to gain yards after the catch. Burden, who only had two touchdowns last year, should also be able to put more points on the board. The Bears can use the former second-round pick in a number of ways. Not only can he gain yardage after catching short passes, but he can also thrive in the deep game and be utilized as a ball carrier. Burden’s versatility makes him a candidate to take on more of a gadget role in year two.

There is also a glaring hole left in Chicago’s receiving corps with the loss of DJ Moore. The Bears somewhat surprisingly traded their veteran receiver to the Buffalo Bills. While Moore was regressing, and while the Bears believe in his replacements, it was still a shock that the team dealt Moore away because they didn’t get back much in return.

The move will certainly force Burden into taking on a bigger role, though. Burden only started five games all of last season. He can be penciled in as a starter in year two already. And while the Bears will still focus on having offensive balance with a solid rushing attack, there is no doubt that they’d like to unleash their former number one overall pick in year three. If the Bears utilize a more aggressive passing attack this season, Burden will benefit.

A Bears quarterback has still yet to ever throw for 4,000 yards in a single season. Williams came closer than anyone before when he tossed for 3,942 yards last season. It seems like an inevitability that the former Heisman winner will surpass that mark this year, and that means that Chicago receivers could finish the year with never-before-seen production. Burden might not outproduce Odunze, but there is a good chance he puts up bigger numbers than the rest of his pass-catching teammates, including his draft class peer Colston Loveland.