The 2025 NFL draft is under a month away and will begin on April 24 and run through April 26. One intriguing player to keep an eye on will be Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Early on in the 2024 college football season, Burden was viewed as a potential top-10 pick. So close the draft, he's still projected by most to be a first-round pick, but his stock has dropped some.
Burden's numbers did not live up to the early season hype. However, his pure talent and potential is obvious.
Throughout the course of the 2024 season, he caught 61 passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns. Back in 2023, he racked up 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns.
Todd McShay, one of the top draft experts in the business, used a harsh word to describe Burden heading into the draft.
As shared by Dov Kleiman on X, McShay used the word "diva" when describing Burden.
"There's a lot of Diva. And the biggest thing, you know what I talk to when I talk to NFL teams? He just flat out quit in that Alabama game," McShay said. "I'm sure I'll have people calling and SIDs and everything else, but go watch it for yourself."
Oh Boy: Missouri WR Luther Burden III is being labeled as a Diva, according to NFL draft analyst Todd McShay:
"There's a lot of Diva. And the biggest thing, you know what I talk to when I talk to NFL teams? He just flat out quit in that Alabama game. I'm sure I'll have people… pic.twitter.com/wbtLqM2XNZ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 27, 2025
That is a very concerning take from one of the best experts in the business. McShay's take is the kind of thing that can scare some teams away.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com offered a very intriguing current comparison for Burden that shows just how talented the Missouri wideout is right now. He believes that New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is a comparable player.
Related: Ohio State QB Will Howard Receives Head-Turning NFL Draft Prediction
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This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM.