Here’s What Needs to Happen for Luther Burden to Sign His Contract
As Chicago Bears training camp begins tomorrow, all eyes are on rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III—and his unsigned contract. I recently posted on Twitter “Bears should just give Luther Burden a fully guaranteed contract. Camp starts tomorrow.” The comment sparked plenty of debate, but it reflects my growing frustration with how slowly negotiations are moving.
Burden, a second round pick, is expected to sign a four year, $10.95 million deal, according to Spotrac. That’s standard for his draft slot. However, with many other second rounders landing contracts that are roughly 60%-95% guaranteed depending on the draft spot, the Bears reluctance to fully guarantee Burden’s deal seems unnecessarily cautious.
GM Ryan Poles is likely concerned about setting a precedent for future negotiations—a fair point in a league where every move is scrutinized. Still, we’re talking about a relatively modest amount of money for a player who could become a major weapon alongside Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson’s offense.
The Bears have the money to make it work, and a fully guaranteed deal could send the right message to both the locker room and the fanbase. With camp kicking off, the last thing this team needs is a contract standoff overshadowing the start of a crucial season. The Bears should close the deal, get Burden on the field, and let him prove why he was worth the pick.