How Patriots Can Land Top Wideout, Who’d Be ‘Drake Maye’s Best Friend’

Luther Burden III was the best wide receiver in the country coming out of East St. Louis High. With offers from Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Oregon, just to name a few, the St. Louis native would have been a household name in no time.

Burden, however, wanted to leave a legacy in his home state. The five-star recruit and MaxPreps Player of the Year had college football coaches piling up the postage. After sorting through his 39 offers, Burden chose to stay local.

He landed at the University of Missouri and accomplished what he set out to achieve.

“(It was) his willingness to believe in a vision when nobody else would,” Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz told NESN.com. “He’s absolutely responsible for helping us build this program, bringing in some national recognition into our school and into our football program.”

The Tigers went 21-5 during Burden’s final two seasons in Columbia, ranking as high as No. 6 in the country in 2024. They concluded each of those campaigns nationally ranked.

Drinkwitz believes Burden could help the New England Patriots to a similar turnaround.

“He would be Drake Maye’s best friend,” Drinkwitz said. “I think he makes a ton of sense for the Patriots.”

The Patriots have a glaring need at wide receiver entering the 2025 NFL Draft. New England missed out on Chris Godwin and Tee Higgins in free agency and opted not to pursue a trade for DK Metcalf. Striking out at the position is nothing new in New England. Problems signing, drafting or developing receivers has been the biggest roster-building blemish the last decade.

Mike Vrabel and his new regime will try to put a stop to it. The Patriots head coach understands the benefit of having a top wideout. Given how hard they are to acquire, Vrabel also knows the most fruitful way to add an impact receiver is through the draft.

Could Burden be a potential target for the Patriots? Draft experts view him as one top receivers in the class behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan and Texas’ Matthew Golden and right there with Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka. He’s figured to be in the mix as a mid-to-late first-round pick.

“Overall, Burden is a fun player to study and reminds me of Stefon Diggs coming out of college,” NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah wrote earlier this month.

Drinkwitz, perhaps to no surprise given his understandable bias, has Burden ranked higher than that. He called Burden the best receiver in the class and believes Burden’s draft standing is a reflection of Missouri’s situation and offensive struggles more than Burden’s skill. Injuries and a less-efficient passing offense hindered Burden’s production in 2024 (61 catches, 676 yards, six TDs) after he caught 86 balls for 1,200-plus yards in 2023.

The foundation for a game-changer, Drinkwitz argues, is still there.

“When you watch his tape, his explosiveness, his explosive play cutup, there’s not anybody else in the draft that’s as good as him,” Drinkwitz said. “There’s just so many different ways you can get him the ball whether it’s lining him up in the backfield or using him in motion on jets (sweeps) or quick screens, or vertically down the field.”

There’s also no reason to doubt his intangibles.

“Luther Burden is an elite competitor,” Drinkwitz said. “His competitive nature when the ball is in his hands — he just doesn’t believe anyone can tackle him. And he’s right. I mean, he’s right.”

Drinkwitz recalled a third-down catch-and-run against Boston College when Burden won a contested grab at the BC 16-yard line. He then spun off one defender, before running through three more Eagles on his way to the end zone, a play that quickly became a film room favorite. (You can watch it here.)

Then there was a should-be game-winner against South Carolina in November. Burden’s crisp out-and-up route led to an over-the-shoulder, one-handed grab at the Gamecocks’ 10-yard line. He easily brushed off a defender before walking in for the score. Ultimately, however, Missouri couldn’t hold the 28-27 lead with 1:10 to play.

It’s no surprise Burden led the NCAA in missed tackles forced in 2023.

“That’s just kind of the trademark of who he is,” Drinkwitz said.

The biggest question for the Patriots likely won’t be about Burden’s talent or ability. That’s clear.

What isn’t: How would the Patriots land him?

New England has premier picks, but the fourth overall selection feels too rich, and he should be gone by No. 38. NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline recently reported those around the league believe Burden will come off the board between picks 16-25.

A trade up from No. 38 to land Burden will require a creative approach. Vrabel and company have a pair of third-rounders which they could package with 38 to jump back into the first round (mid-20s) or early second round, if Burden slides farther than anticipated.

The glaring need could prompt an aggressive move from the Patriots — and one could argue it should.

“He’s just a dynamic football player,” Drinkwitz said.

Exactly the type of player the Patriots need to give Drake Maye. It’s just about how they go about adding someone like Burden.