Chris Brazzell Combine
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NFL.com lists Chris Brazell II with the 9th highest Athleticism Score among wide receivers prospects in the 2026 NFL draft (83).
The Chicago Bears’ offense waselectric during 2025. They led the league infourth-quarter comebacks (seven), and Caleb Williams broke the franchise’ssingle-season record for passing yards (3,942). The Bears’ offense is expected to take another step forward next season despite losing their team-leading wide receiver, DJ Moore. Moore was, of course,traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round pick earlier this offseason. Second and third year receivers Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze are expected to fill in for Moore’s 85 vacated targets. But behind those top two options, the competition is wide open.
The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner has the Bears addinganother receiving weapon for quarterback Caleb Williams in his latestmock draft.
Chris Brazzell II Was A Standout At the Scouting Combine
Chris Brazzell Stats
GettyChris Brazzell has recorded 136 catches for 2,072 yards and 16 touchdowns across his four-year college career, split between Tulane Green Wave (2022-2023) and the Tennessee Volunteers (2024-2025).
Baumgardner has the Bears using the 60th overall pick they acquired from the Bills to draft Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Chris Brazzell II.
Brazzell II notched a career high of62 receptions for 1,017 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season. Brazzell II displayed blazing speed at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine after running a4.37-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4 inches tall.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. listed Brazzell II as one of his standouts from the combine. “It’s hard to find receivers with that body type who can run and move as he does,”Kiper Jr. proclaimed. “Brazzell averaged 16.4 yards per catch and had just two drops last season. He’s strong and makes plays in 50-50 situations. I expect a lot more late-Round 1 buzz for him now.”
Based on Kiper Jr.’s predictions, Chicago landing Brazzell II that far into the second round, as Bamgardner predicts, would be a steal. Odunze and Burden both dealt with injuries last season, so adding another versatile piece to Ben Johnson’s offense would not only fill the hole left by DJ Moore but would also provide insurance at the position as the season progresses.
Ben Johnson Is Excited To Get Luther Burden More Involved In The Offense
Luther Burden Stats
GettyWide receiver Luther Burden III recorded 47 catches for 625 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season with the Chicago Bears.
As the 2025 season progressed, Bears fans began to see the talent that led many to believe Luther Burden could have been afirst-round pick in 2025. Burden certainly caught his head coach’s attention as Johnsonraved about his development and potential at the 2026 NFL annual league meeting.
“He’s exactly what we thought we were getting out of the draft last year,”Johnson said about Burden. “This guy is a dynamic playmaker. He’s got some of the best run-after-catch in the game right now. I really believe that. We gotta continue to get the ball in his hands as often as we possibly can.”
Burden had seven or moretargets in four of the Bears’ final five games of last season, including playoffs. He averaged 2.4 more receptions and 35.7 more yards per game over his final eight games of the regular season compared to his first seven. Burden will need to continue to refine his route-tree and consistency as the Bears look to replicate and improve their offensive output next season.