The Detroit Lions are being encouraged to acquire a player who could provide significant help to Jared Goff on the field for the 2025 season.
Though the NFL regular season doesn’t begin until September, new reports continue to emerge about the Detroit Lions and their efforts to prepare for their 2025 campaign.
Overall, the Lions are set to look quite different in 2025. While key figures like Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, Jared Goff, and Amon-Ra St. Brown remain, the team is also undergoing changes by parting ways with several players and coaches.
Now, the Lions are being advised to bring in a specific player who could pair with Goff to help push the team toward a deep postseason run.
The Lions already boast talented receivers in St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but having additional depth is always beneficial. Injuries can strike unexpectedly, making it risky to wait until mid-season to acquire another receiver.
In a mock draft released by CBS Sports on March 19, NFL analyst Chris Trapasso projected the Lions to select Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III with the No. 28 overall pick.
“Don’t let Burden’s 2024 stats mislead you—he’s a top-tier receiver prospect with immense potential,” Trapasso wrote in his analysis.
Burden had a strong 2024 season, recording 61 receptions, 676 yards, and six touchdowns. His 2023 performance was even better, with 86 catches, 1,212 yards, and nine touchdowns. Over three college seasons, Burden accumulated 2,263 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns.
According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, Burden is a “five-star recruit with elite athleticism and playmaking ability.”
The scouting report also describes Burden as a “natural on the field, possessing above-average speed and outstanding ball skills to consistently make plays.”
“He tends to ease up on plays and cut routes short when he’s not the primary target,” Zierlein noted, “but he has the ability to create separation and succeed at all three levels when given the opportunity.”
Regarding the team that selects Burden, Zierlein stated, “NFL teams will likely expand his role, unlocking his full skill set and big-play ability. His production against top competition varied at times, but Missouri’s quarterback play was inconsistent. Burden possesses key traits that often indicate a promising NFL career.”
Burden could be another valuable addition to the Lions’ offense. Given the injuries the team faced last season, strengthening the wide receiver group would be a smart move.
However, not everyone is convinced about Burden’s draft status. In February, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. explained why he doesn’t see Burden as a guaranteed first-round pick.
“He was a dominant player last year, so expectations were that he’d improve and solidify himself as a top-10 draft pick. That didn’t happen. He disappeared in some games, and Theo Wease Jr. became the go-to target.”
ESPN’s Field Yates added, “I get the same impression—Burden might sneak into the late first round. Based on his 2024 tape and the concerns scouts have, he’s not a sure bet to be selected in the first round.”
