Luther Burden III receives NFL comp from ESPN analyst Bill Connelly

Luther Burden III is being projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by most analysts.

Though he didn’t have his best year for Mizzou in 2024, it had a lot to do with questionable offense and QB injuries rather than anything Burden was doing wrong.

As we approach the NFL Draft later this month in Green Bay, it’s time to start wondering what Burden’s NFL career could look like.

ESPN’s team of NFL and college football analysts made pro comparisons for some of the top players in the 2025 draft class. Bill Connelly drew Burden and compared him to Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin.

Here’s what Connelly had to say about the Burden-Godwin comp:

I’ve seen a lot of Deebo Samuel Sr. comps for Burden, and understandably so — both are dangerous near and far from the line of scrimmage, and both are strong runners. But Missouri deployed Burden similar to how Tampa Bay has Godwin over the past couple of seasons, with a healthy dose of screens and hitches/hooks out of the slot to provide opportunities for yards after catch. At 6-0, 206 pounds, Burden is built a lot like Godwin (6-1, 209 pounds), too. He’s a muscular runner with good hands. A Godwin-like career would more than justify a Day 1 or Day 2 pick.

If Burden’s career turns out like Samuel’s or Godwin’s, he’ll have given the team that drafts him great value. We’ll see where he ends up later this month.

RELATED: As we prepare for the launch of legal online Missouri sports betting, stay tuned to Saturday Down South for the latest info on what will likely be a great BetMGM Missouri bonus code.

Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft takes place on Thursday, April 24, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.