As the 2025 NFL offseason kicked off, many expected the Detroit Lions to use their first-round pick on an edge rusher. However, after the initial weeks of free agency, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso has predicted a surprising twist: he believes the Lions will select Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III with their first-round pick. While Burden is seen as one of the top receivers in the draft, this choice could be a misstep for the Lions given their current roster.
The Lions already have one of the league’s top receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams showed significant promise in 2024, recording 58 catches for 1,001 yards. Additionally, they have tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs contributing to the passing game, leaving little room for another receiver. With one of the league’s strongest backfields featuring Gibbs and David Montgomery, the Lions are likely to continue relying heavily on their running game moving forward.
Given this, it’s hard to envision how adding Burden would offer immediate value, especially with him being a raw prospect. Despite his impressive potential, Burden’s 2024 performance dropped significantly compared to 2023, where his receptions fell from 86 catches for 1,212 yards to just 61 catches for 676 yards. Further analysis reveals that nearly 44% of his catches came behind the line of scrimmage, while only 25% came 10 yards or more down the field. This suggests that whichever team drafts him will need to create specific plays to get him involved. While Burden might still be considered a first-round talent, the Lions’ current needs are better suited to positions other than wide receiver. Fans may not be thrilled if the team chooses Burden in the first round.
