Culture

By Brandon Duplacey

Two years ago, prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, most scouts and pro NFL analysts had DT Jalen Carter out of Georgia ranked as the number one talent in the draft. Carter was involved in a motor vehicle incident that left two people dead and two severely injured. Carter was sentenced to 12 months probation, but in regard to his future NFL career, he was heavily criticized for fleeing the scene in the vehicle he’d been driving the night of the event.

After raising character concerns, this incident would go on to affect Carter’s draft stock. Once projected in the top five by all major sources, it wasn’t clear how far Carter would fall, given that some NFL GMs were concerned about his level of maturity. Come draft day, Carter did indeed fall — and directly into the Chicago Bears' lap, who held the 9th overall pick in the draft.

Even though it seemed to be a no-brainer for a team that not only had the opportunity to select the best available player but also fill one of their greatest positions of need, after visiting with Carter, Ryan Poles decided not to draft him. Instead, the Bears traded back one pick with the Philadelphia Eagles, who ultimately selected Carter with the 9th pick.

Ryan Poles was asked many times about this decision and stated, “Character is always going to be important to us,” implying that the meeting with Carter had raised red flags about Jalen’s off-the-field character. Poles wasn’t the first Chicago Bears GM to pass on a clearly talented player due to character and attitude concerns. This raised a red flag for myself and many fans regarding the Bears' approach with players such as these.

Did the general manager not have faith in his coaching staff to mentor a player as young as Carter, who had clearly made a grave mistake — as many of us have at such an early stage of our young adult lives?

The Bears, just two years later, would come to face a very familiar decision regarding a player with “character concerns.” A few months ago, Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden was ranked as a top-3 player at the position in the 2025 draft class. However, after a few NFL scouting reports, questions were raised regarding Burden’s discipline, effort, and off-the-field behavior. Burden would ultimately find himself falling further and further down draft boards, eventually falling out of the first round entirely.

Pick 39 — the Bears are on the clock.
Ryan Poles finds himself staring down the barrel once again at the best remaining talent in the draft. Burden was not only the best remaining player available by all accounts, but he also filled a position the Bears desperately needed after the departure of slot receiver Keenan Allen.

This time around, however, the Bears' new coaching staff would take a different approach to a player who might need mentorship off the field as well as on. Head Coach Ben Johnson and Wide Receivers Coach Antwaan Randle El embraced the challenge, understanding that Burden’s talent was far too impressive to pass up — and believing in themselves to do what’s right by the young man who simply needs a little guidance.

Randle El, often referred to as a "father figure" and a disciplinarian, had already proven his ability to help develop young players when he turned twice-suspended Jameson Williams into a 1,000-yard receiver. He’s no stranger to helping a player grow both in maturity off the field and in development on the field.

Poles and company would ultimately select Burden with the 39th pick, a move now being reported as possibly the "steal of the draft." For maybe the first time in the organization's existence, the Bears did not shy away from inheriting a top-level talent — and everything that comes with him, good or bad.

This should serve as yet another sign to fans that a culture shift is occurring in Chicago.
Instead of a "somebody else’s problem" mentality, the Bears took a "leave it to me" approach with a player who needs more than just coaching. And I have a feeling it’s going to benefit them in a major way this upcoming season.

Burden has the potential to become a dynamic cornerstone piece of a loaded offense and bring an element the Bears otherwise didn’t have. I’m excited to watch the growth and development of this young man, on and off the field, with the help, counsel, and tutelage of men who aren’t afraid to embrace that responsibility.