Report: Broncos had a top-30 pre-draft visit with Missouri WR Luther Burden III

The Broncos hosted Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III for a top-30 pre-draft visit. He’s argubly the most explosive receiver in the draft and would give QB Bo Nix another weapon in the passing game.

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos had a top-30 pre-draft visit with Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III. He is one of the top receivers in the draft and could be an option for them at the 20th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

First, a reminder or refresher on what exactly a top 30 visit is. Each NFL team in the days and weeks before the start of the NFL Draft is allowed to invite up to 30 different prospects to come in for what amounts to a job interview. From there, they will work them out, show them the facility, meet with coaches, and essentially have a job interview. It is just another step in the long scouting process leading up to the NFL Draft.

Burden is a 6’0”, 206-pound wide receiver who is arguably one of the more explosive players in this entire draft. He is coming off a down year but had an impressive 2023 season where he showcased his immense potential. During the NFL Scouting Combine, Burden ran a 4.41 40-time with an impressive 1.54 10-yard split, which showcased the explosive nature of his game.

NFL Network’s lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Burden III graded as his 33rd overall player in the draft, while ranking him as his fifth-best receiver in the draft. He calls Burden a quick and athletic slot receiver who reminds him of Stefon Diggs coming out of college.

Burden is a quick, athletic slot receiver. He received a lot of quick hitters in Missouri’s offense. He excels on underneath option routes that allow him to combine his feel to create space and his suddenness to generate yards after the catch. He has outstanding body control, giving him the ability to contort and haul in poorly thrown balls. He is at his best with the ball in his hands. He can stop/start in a hurry and possesses the agility to make defenders miss in tight quarters. He has more to offer once he gets to the next level. When given the opportunity to work down the field, he can tap into another gear and track the ball smoothly. Overall, Burden is a fun player to study and reminds me of Stefon Diggs coming out of college.

The fit with the Broncos is an interesting one. The way he was deployed at Missouri is much like the way the Broncos used Marvin Mims Jr. this past season. He was used in the screen game, in the backfield, and as a deep threat. While that skill set may overlap, it does fit the offense head coach Sean Payton is running in Denver. They utilized multiple receivers in the screen game, quick passing game, and took multiple shots down the field. Adding Burden III to the mix would only make their passing game that much more dangerous this upcoming season.

The Broncos hit a home run with their selection of quarterback Bo Nix during the draft last year. So, the focus moving forward should be surrounding him with as many weapons as they can. We already know they plan on drafting a running back at some point in this draft, but they can do that outside the first round of the draft. Giving Nix a weapon like Burden III and then giving him an improved run game would be huge for him and the offenses development.

Burden III does come with some concerns but it will be hard to pass on that upside. I trust Payton and the Broncos decision making here and if they believe Burden III is the guy then I will trust the process.