Bears Complete Panthers Trade, Land Luther Burden III

The Chicago Bears have officially concluded their blockbuster 2023 trade with the Carolina Panthers by selecting wide receiver Luther Burden III with the 39th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. This trade gave the Bears DJ Moore, multiple premium picks, and the opportunity to build around quarterback Caleb Williams with young talent such as Rome Odunze and Burden, who is expected to excel as a slot receiver under new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The Bears' 2025 draft class is praised for its upside but has drawn some criticism for using high picks on a tight end and possible reaches. The deal is widely considered a long-term win for Chicago, creating a strong offensive foundation and elevating the team's status in the NFC North. Meanwhile, the Panthers continue to develop Bryce Young and have added Tetairoa McMillan as a new offensive weapon. Lesser deals, such as the Bengals-Bears trade involving Khalil Herbert, had minimal impact compared to the Bears-Panthers transaction.