The football gods always have a sense of humor about how things ended up happening. Troy Aikman famously dodged Jimmy Johnson twice, first by turning down the coach and going to Oklahoma and then again when he transferred to UCLA. Yet the two ended up together anyway when Johnson’s Dallas Cowboys drafted the quarterback in 1989. Fate can be unavoidable. It appears the same is true for new Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden. The 2nd round pick never expected he’d get this opportunity.
As it turns out, this isn’t the first time he has had the chance to team up with quarterback Caleb Williams. They came so close to doing so four years ago.
“I know a lot about [Caleb]. Me and him were supposed to be teammates before (at Oklahoma). So the world works in mysterious ways. So, I’m excited to finally unite with him and get to work.”
This wasn’t lip service either. Burden spoke with CBS Sports before the draft last month. He was asked a direct question about which quarterback he’d prefer playing with. Williams or Drake Maye? The receiver didn’t have to think too long about it.
Luther Burden and Williams can be deadly.
It’s not just because both of them are uniquely talented individuals. Some of it also comes from how their skill sets fit each other. Williams showed last season that he likes to lean on the slot receiver in key situations. That is why Keenan Allen was second on the team with 121 targets despite missing two games. He also likes throwing quick passes on screens and slants to his receivers. Luther Burden is equipped to play both of those roles. Try to imagine what damage those two could’ve done together in college. It would’ve been unfair. Burden was a menace, and a future undrafted free agent was throwing him the ball. Now he has a former #1 pick. No wonder he is so excited.
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