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Eli Drinkwitz responds to Steve Smith criticism of Luther Burden: 'He's got his own issues to worry about'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz05/01/25NickSchultz_7
Missouri HC Eli Drinkwitz
Denny Medley | USA TODAY Sports

Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, Steve Smith Sr. revealed concerns he had about former Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III. Speaking on his Underdog Fantasy podcast, Smith told James Palmer he was worried about Burden’s focus and preparation at the next level.

Ultimately, the Chicago Bears selected Burden No. 39 overall in the draft. After that selection, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz offered a fierce response to Smith.

Drinkwitz said the tape speaks for itself with Burden, who had a tough end to his three-year career in Columbia, but recorded more than 1,200 receiving yards in 2023. He also said Smith has “his own issues to worry about” when asked about the former Carolina Panthers wide receiver.

“He’s got his own issues to worry about,” Drinkwitz said on Rahimi and Harris on 670 The Score in Chicago. “I’m not worried about somebody else’s opinion about Luther Burden’s tape. The Chicago Bears liked the tape enough and believed in it.

“He’s an all-conference player, All-American player. Everybody’s got haters and critics. I mean, I don’t really care.”

Burden entered the pre-draft process as a potential first-round pick, but saw his stock fall in the months to follow. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he clocked in at 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash to just miss out on the Top 10 fastest wide receivers in the event.

Burden made his biggest impact at Missouri as a sophomore in 2023. That’s when he had 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the Tigers – and joined a list of names such as Ja’Marr Chase, Mike Evans and AJ Brown as SEC receivers to reach 1,200 or more yards in their sophomore season.

What Steve Smith said about Luther Burden

In the system at Missouri, though, Smith thought the Tigers would force the ball to Burden. He also heard about what teams thought of his Pro Day and what they saw.

“I think he’s a good football player. I also think they force-feed him,” Smith said. “They allowed him to run so many routes at the expense of other receivers on the team, which has hampered their draft status, which has increased his draft status. However, teams that went to his Pro Day, and he showed up [as] exactly what some people said he was. Which was, he wasn’t the best version of himself that you want to see and invest millions of dollars.”

Smith also added there was criticism swirling around Burden’s focus, although he didn’t deny his playmaking ability. That said, criticism also included the former Five Star Plus+ recruit’s performance against more physicality, Smith added.

“If he doesn’t get the ball when he believes he should, he becomes unfocused,” Smith said. “Explosive with the ball in his hands. You get a lot of usage out of him at times. They seem to force the ball to him, is the criticism right now. Against bigger and physical teams, didn’t answer the bell with the same energy.”