Who Should I Start? Jack Bech or Luther Burden III

Tuesday, April 29, 4:56 PM

Las Vegas Raiders second-round rookie wide receiver Jack Bech is a strong candidate to be an immediate starter in his first NFL season, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore. The TCU product was taken with the 58th overall pick on Day 2 and should line up next to Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker in starting three-wide sets. Rookie fourth-rounder Dont'e Thornton Jr. out of Tennessee could also push Tucker for playing time as a deep threat in 2025. Like Meyers and Tucker, Bech can play inside and outside and will likely be used in different spots on the field. The 23-year-old will probably be behind tight Brock Bowers and Meyers in terms of targets in his rookie year, but he'll be working with an established veteran quarterback in Geno Smith and could be worth a late-round dart throw in deep redraft leagues. Bech will be a solid target in rookie-only drafts once the top names at receiver come off the board.

Tuesday, June 10, 9:57 PM

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (undisclosed), who suffered an undisclosed injury back in rookie minicamp, is expected to be ready to go for the start of training camp in late July, according to head coach Ben Johnson. The 21-year-old second-rounder has yet to sign his rookie deal, too, which is also playing a part in his absence from offseason workouts as he heads into his first year in the NFL. Burden is losing valuable reps to learn Johnson's offense, but when he does rejoin the team, he has an opportunity to be the Bears' No. 3 wideout in 2025 behind DJ Moore and second-year pass-catcher Rome Odunze. When you factor in tight ends Cole Kmet and rookie Colston Loveland (shoulder) and running back D'Andre Swift, it's a lot of mouths to feed in Chicago. Burden's physicality and production in college make him a fine dynasty/keeper stash, but he could struggle for consistency in 2025.