Daniel Jeremiah’s Mock Draft Pairs Luther Burden III with the Texans

Houston’s offensive struggles in 2024 were evident. With Tank Dell recovering from a major injury and Stefon Diggs’ contract situation uncertain, the Texans desperately need another playmaker to complement Nico Collins. Luther Burden III, despite primarily playing in the slot, brings the explosiveness to win outside, along with the toughness and shiftiness to be a weapon in the screen game, jet sweeps, and vertical routes from multiple alignments.

At around 6 feet tall and 208 pounds, Burden has an ideal frame for the NFL. His incredible acceleration jumps off the screen, making him a dangerous threat both as a route runner and with the ball in his hands. In his sophomore season in the SEC, Burden racked up an impressive 724 yards after the catch (YAC), playing over 80% of his snaps in the slot. He finished the year with 86 receptions for over 1,200 yards, drawing comparisons to some of the best SEC receivers in recent history. His sturdy build, balance, and burst make him a nightmare for defenders, and his skill set would perfectly complement Collins, who thrives as a physical X receiver on the outside. Burden could be schemed touches to exploit mismatches while continuing to refine his overall receiving abilities. This would also take pressure off Collins, who has been the Texans’ most reliable big-play threat in the screen game over the past few years.

While Burden’s breakout season came in the slot, he has shown the ability to play outside as well. As a freshman, he lined up out wide for over 80% of his snaps, finishing with 375 receiving yards and six touchdowns, plus two more scores on the ground. Though he experienced a slight dip in production in 2024, some attribute that to the offense’s struggles rather than his individual performance. Even so, his highlights continue to showcase his high ceiling, natural elusiveness, and versatility.

Burden’s impact in Nick Caley’s offense could be devastating for opposing defenses. While his effectiveness as a run blocker remains a question, his ability as a YAC and vertical threat would create the kind of stress Houston’s offense hasn’t imposed in years. We’ve seen shifty, dynamic receivers thrive in this type of system before—think prime Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks, and Puka Nacua. Burden, fully optimized in a well-designed scheme with a quarterback like C.J. Stroud, could have similar success. Whether it’s slot fades, crossers, post routes, bubble screens, or quick hitches and slants, Burden has proven he can turn short gains into explosive plays. Pairing him with Collins would give Stroud another legitimate deep threat, allowing Houston to attack defenses at every level.

As the Texans continue to build their offensive line and establish a stronger run game, adding Burden would amplify their ability to dictate terms to opposing defenses. If teams stack the box, Stroud will have the weapons to punish them deep. If they stay in two-high shells, Houston will have an improved run game and screen options to take advantage of that alignment. Simply put, Burden would be a nightmare for defensive coordinators.

A playmaker like Burden could be the missing piece that helps Stroud take another leap in his third season. With his addition, the Texans could finally have the firepower to make a legitimate push for the AFC Championship.