Are Draft Analysts Sleeping On A Luther Burden-Green Bay Connection?

For several reasons — not least of which are the Green Bay Packers’ clear need for wide receiver help and the fanbase’s years-long public campaign for a top pass-catcher — every name under the sun has been talked about as a potential fit.

In the first round, people have floated names like Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, and Tetairoa McMillan.

However, one receiver with first-round potential hasn't been mentioned much in the conversation about Green Bay’s wide receiver sweepstakes.

Missouri's Luther Burden.

Is Burden being incorrectly ignored as an option for the Packers?

Green Bay has hosted six receivers for a top-30 visit. Three were used on Egbuka, Golden, and McMillan. Not only are all three likely first-rounders, they could all be off the board before Green Bay selects at 23.

Burden is a fairly comparable player, but the Packers chose not to use a top-30 visit on him. Additionally, questions about character issues have emerged around Burden leading up to the draft. As far as we know, the Packers have typically avoided those red-flagged prospects under general manager Brian Gutekunst.

For what it's worth, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz has voiced loudly and clearly that Burden was never an issue for him or the rest of the coaching staff. Drinkwitz appeared on "

The coach going to bat for the player helps Burden's case, but there are still multiple reports to the contrary. Take Todd McShay, for example, who reported the exact opposite on an episode of "

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer noted in a February piece that Burden isn't the "cleanest prospect."

Regardless of what side of the aisle you fall on, what isn't disputed is Burden’s pure talent. He looks like a natural top-end receiver with solid speed (4.41 40-yard dash) and unlimited playmaking ability. He was a yards-after-catch monster with the Tigers. Missouri often powered its offense by getting Burden the ball in whatever fashion necessary and letting him go to work.

The lack of a top-30 visit in Green Bay is a bad sign for his prospects in Green and Gold. However, consider that last year the Packers invited plenty of offensive linemen for visits before taking Arizona's Jordan Morgan in the first round. They also took three players who had made top-30 visits.

So, while it's a good indicator of the front office’s thinking, it's not the be-all, end-all.

Almost every mock draft has Golden or McMillan going No. 12 overall to the Dallas Cowboys, and plenty of mocks have both off the board before Green Bay selects at No. 23.

A trade-up is always possible, and one of Egbuka, Golden, or McMillan may still be on the board when the Packers get on the clock. That still shouldn’t dismiss the possibility of Burden being an option.

Green Bay needs help at the position, even more so with the injury that will keep Christian Watson out for most of the 2025 season. Watson was more than a deep threat in Matt LaFleur's offense. However, his biggest contribution was being the guy who could take the lid off a defense.

Burden is more of a true home-run threat than Egbuka or McMillan. That doesn't mean Burden is better than either, but he would fill a more direct need at the position.

Missouri didn't often use Burden in that fashion. Per Pro Football Focus, 75% of Burden's catches were targeted inside 10 yards. However, he has the potential to be a deep threat given his speed and playmaking ability.

The character issues are worrisome, if there's any truth to those rumors. Drinkwitz may have waved away any of those concerns, but reporters still have doubts.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein might have put it best when summing up Burden.

The good is really good. It's top-tier playmaking ability, substantial speed, and a receiver who wins when the ball comes his way.

The bad is worrisome. Green Bay values wide receivers who can run block. Is Burden someone who will embrace that or throttle down on the gas when the ball isn't coming his way? That's for Green Bay to figure out.

There's no denying Burden’s talent, though. Because of that talent alone, he cannot be ruled out as an option early on for Green Bay.