Just before 1:00 a.m. Friday morning — a couple hours after Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft concluded — Luther Burden III headed to Missouri's facility to work out.

The First-Team All-SEC receiver felt he should have been selected in the top 32 picks.

"[I was] pretty much fixing to get some work in while everybody was celebrating," Burden said Friday night. "And I'm going to do the same thing tonight … The field's an escape for me, always has been, and I needed to hit the field to clear my head for today."

Burden headed into the second round ready, and he didn't have to wait long.

While Burden will hit the field again shortly, this time he'll work out as an NFL player after being selected No. 39 overall by the Bears Friday night.

"I'm super excited to be a part of the Chicago Bears," Burden said.

Burden's motivated mindset, which led him to Mizzou's facility early this morning, is exactly what the Bears appreciate about the St. Louis native.

"The first thing everybody mentions is this is a competitive player," Bears director of college scouting Breck Ackley said. "So you put him in competitive situations, whether it's in the weight room, in situations where he crosses the line on the field, and he wants to compete, and he's passionate about football."

Along with his ultra-competitive spirit, Ackley said the Bears identified Burden as a "playmaker." In his three seasons with the Tigers, Burden totaled 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The versatility Burden displayed in college also stood out to the Bears.

"You're looking for guys that can win before they get the ball in the route, when they get the ball in their hand," Ackley said. "I think that's where he really excels. It's not hard to see when you watch the ball-in-hand ability. One of the unique things about him is he can win a few ways with the ball in his hand.

"He can win with speed, he can win with physicality and he can win with elusiveness. Another guy that can separate in routes and produce after the catch with the ball in his hands. Adds another weapon to the room."

While Burden mainly saw action as a slot receiver at Missouri, the Bears will expect him to play both inside and outside, a responsibility he is ready to assume, adding: "I feel like I fit perfect in their offense."

"We see him as a guy that can play both, honestly," Ackley said. "With what we're trying to build with Coach Johnson, it's multiple, everybody moving around, so you can't get a beat. It can open the offense up. So, he adds right into that. I think he has the route running and physicality to win outside, I think he has the separation ability and toughness to win inside."

Burden now joins a receiver room that includes DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott and Olamide Zaccheaus, but the most familiar face he'll see at Halas Hall is quarterback Caleb Williams.

While the pair have never actually played together, they were slated to be teammates at Oklahoma in 2021 before Burden decommitted and chose Missouri. Since then, Burden has kept an eye on Williams and watched a majority of his games.

Burden said he is "a big fan" of Williams and eager to get to work with last year's No. 1 overall selection.

"I know a lot about [Caleb]," Burden said. "Me and him were supposed to be teammates before. So the world works in mysterious ways. So, I'm excited to finally unite with him and get to work."