The Kansas City Chiefs are hard at work in preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft in April and thanks to some shrewd moves from general manager Brett Veach in free agency, they have the luxury of taking the best possible players instead of being forced to target specific spots.
That's a blessing, and this is an intriguing draft class loaded with talented players on both sides of the ball. It's a special year for local prospects, as local teams like the Kansas Jayhawks, Missouri Tigers, and Kansas State Wildcats all have standouts who could be good fits to stay in the area.
While many fans are desperate to see former Lawrence High star Devin Neal added to the roster, the Tigers have the player who Kansas City absolutely has to draft if he's available. After seeing Mecole Hardman sign with the Green Bay Packers in free agency, there's a hole on the depth chart that needs to be filled and Luther Burden III would be a massive upgrade.
Luther Burden actually has a higher floor than people think.
— Andrew (formerly GPNGC) (@draft32teams) March 19, 2025
He’s too good to actually fail.
It’s just a question of if he hones his craft to master the nuances of the position and reach a ceiling.
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Chiefs Must Acquire WR Luther Burden in 2025 NFL Draft
Burden, who at one point was considered to be a potential top-10 pick, is now falling out of the first round in most mock drafts. After catching 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine TDs in 2023, his production fell to 61 receptions for 676 yards and six scores in 2024. However, anyone who watched Missouri knows that was largely due to poor quarterback play and not a representation of Burden's impact.
He's phenomenal at breaking tackles, reminding some of a smaller, faster Rashee Rice, and his knowledge of the route tree would work perfectly with the Chiefs' complex offense.
Whoever ultimately drafts Burden will be getting a steal if he does actually fall out of the top 15 picks. He's the second Tiger in program history to record five consecutive 100+ yard games, and there's no reason to believe that he couldn't adjust to the physicality of the professional level.
A trio of Rice, Burden, and Xavier Worthy could set the Chiefs up for a half-decade of offensive dominance, especially with the impending retirement of Travis Kelce waiting. This isn't a moment to overthink things - draft Burden and reap the rewards.