The Chicago Bears raised eyebrows with their decision to select Colston Loveland 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, specifically doing so ahead of fellow tight end and projected TE1 Tyler Warren and amid other roster needs.
They justified their decision, using Loveland in a variety of ways, including as a blocker, which was a knock against him coming out of college.
Moreover, the Bears’ aggressiveness proved prudent while others overplayed their patience.
Bears Beat Broncos to Colston Loveland
Broncos Wanted Bears’ Colston Loveland
Loveland is the second-highest draft tight end for the Bears, behind only Hall of Famer and franchise legend Mike Ditka. He is also nearly two years younger than Warren.
The Bears clearly saw the vision for a player many liked, but few loved the way that they did, with first-year head coach Ben Johnson openly comparing him to Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, with whom he [Johnson] worked for the past several seasons.
Count the Denver Broncos among those who also had eyes for Loveland.
“The Broncos were hoping to land another tight end within the first two rounds of the draft,” 9News’ Mike Klis wrote on February 16.
“They hoped against hope Michigan’s Colston Loveland would fall close to their No. 20 overall selection in the first round. He didn’t, getting snatched at No. 10 by the Chicago Bears for whom he had an impressive rookie season (70 catches, 906 yards, 6 TDs, counting his two playoff games).”
Loveland was not the Broncos’ last option, but they missed out time and again. Meanwhile, Loveland outproduced Warren as a receiver and a run blocker, though the 14th overall pick notably lost his starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, to a season-ending injury.
Still, it would be shortsighted to overlook what Loveland did in Year 1 of Johnson’s offense.
As he and quarterback Caleb Williams grow, both in the system and as a tandem, Loveland’s production figures to increase, and perhaps exponentially.
Bears Projected to Cut Ties With Longest-Tenured Player
There are but a few players on the current Bears’ roster who preceded general manager Ryan Poles’ tenure. One of those players, tight end Cole Kmet, could surprisingly be on his way out this offseason.
Fox Sports’ Greg Auman listed Kmet 14th on his list of the “top 25 potential salary cap cuts.”
Part of Auman’s rationale about Kmet, who remains the Bears’ most well-rounded tight end in terms of being a blocker and a receiver, is that Loveland is in the picture and ascending.
“His contract isn’t that bad — he’s due $10 million this season, so there’s a chance the Bears could find a trade partner for a late-round pick or pick swap,” Auman wrote on February 16, noting the veteran’s dwindling production. “It’s just hard to pay a No. 2 tight end that much, and his touchdowns have dropped from 7-6-4-2 in the last four seasons.”
Given the Bears’ proclivity for 12 personnel, the idea that they would move on from Kmet would be more viable if they had a better option to replace him internally. They do not have any other tight ends under contract for 2026.
Loveland is an increasingly vital piece, but Kmet’s presence helps him and the Bears.