Luther Burden

The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs believes the Bears offense will use screen passes frequently in 2025.

The Justin Fields-led Bears, according to Biggs, used screens as a way of countering pressure, “a tendency defenses were able to pick up on pretty easily.” Last year, 18 percent of Caleb Williams’ pass attempts were at or behind the line of scrimmage. He completed 94 of 99 screen throws for an average of 6.2 yards per attempt. Under new head coach Ben Johnson, Williams should continue using screens as an extension of the run game. “Wide receiver screens will be a part of just about every package, and the Bears have three talented catch-and-run targets in DJ Moore, Luther Burden. and Olamide Zaccheaus,” Biggs said. “They just can’t use the play as an answer for pressure over and over.” Burden, the 39th pick in the 2025 draft, was a screen merchant during much of his college career who ran 86 percent of his routes from the slot. He would benefit if Johnson’s Chicago offense features plenty of wideout screen plays.