Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson has surprising stance on WR position battle

One of the more underrated talking points about the training camp for the Chicago Bears is the position battle at wide receiver.

The Bears only have a few position battles of note, with most headlines circulating about the left tackle and center position. Still, Chicago needs to find its starters at cornerback, with Tyrique Stevenson on the hot seat. The Bears also need to find an edge that can get after the opposing quarterback.

Lost in the shuffle is who will become the WR1 for the Bears after DJ Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills this offseason. Rome Odunze, coming off a foot injury, will battle Luther Burden III for that role.

Odunze, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, led Chicago in receiving before suffering the foot injury last year. Burden, a second-round pick in 2025, emerged as one of the Bears’ most exciting options late last season. He recorded nine catches for 138 yards and one touchdown in Chicago’s 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 28.

Burden dealt with injuries during the last offseason, and he should be poised for a breakout season in 2026.

When speaking to reporters on Friday, Bears head coach Ben Johnson praised Burden’s mentality, arguing that he could be a top receiver in the league.

“I’ve been around a few guys like this that they’re just wired in a kind of way where – I don’t know if it’s at an early age, but they feel like this is their destiny,” Johnson said, via Eli One of WGN News. “This is where they’re supposed to be, and I feel that from him.

“I think he knows how good he can be, and in his mind that’s probably top five, top three, top receiver in the NFL. I haven’t talked to him specifically about that, but the way he goes about his business tells me that.”

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Burden finished his rookie season with 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns. Obviously, Burden will need to become more of a threat in the red zone if he wants to take the next step.

For Odunze and Burden, the battle for the WR1 job will be more about bragging rights. Odunze will be eligible for a contract extension at the end of the regular season, and general manager Ryan Poles will have to evaluate how he wants to pay his talented young pass-catchers in the future.

Last season, rookie tight end Colston Loveland led the Bears in receiving.

The talent is promising in Chicago, but it will come at a steep price in a couple of seasons.

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