It’s safe to say that Ben Johnson played a major part in the Chicago Bears selecting wide receiver Luther Burden with the No. 39 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Burden was a wide receiver who many had a first-round grade on, so when he was still on the board when the Bears were making their selection in the second round, Johnson probably couldn’t tell Ryan Poles fast enough to make the selection.

While wide receiver wasn’t at the top of the list of needs for the Bears when the draft started, it can’t be lost in the equation that the team needs to replace Keenan Allen’s role in the offense. Sure, Rome Odunze will likely replace Allen’s production, but the Bears still have a question mark for their slot wide receiver. The Bears did sign veteran Olamide Zaccheaus earlier in the offseason, but his production doesn’t warrant him being assured of being the team’s slot wide receiver. Burden will need to prove he is ready for the role, but it’s a safe assumption to say that Johnson knows the rookie wide receiver will be.

Here’s the scary part (especially for Detroit Lions fans): It’s not just Johnson who sees the playmaker that Burden can be at the NFL level. While meeting with reporters after the draft, Johnson revealed that he received a text from Lions’ wide receiver Jameson Williams after the Bears selected Burden.

Game recognizes game. Williams unlocked a new level of the Lions’ offense last season, and it’s safe to say that if Burden reaches his potential, the same will be true for the Bears. What makes Burden even more special for the Bears is the fact that he can do a lot of the same things that DJ Moore can do. Having two wide receivers who can change up their looks will be a nightmare for opposing defenses.