The Chicago Bears, apparently satisfied with their work in free agency this offseason, decided to add to a strength in the 2025 NFL draft, rather than opt to improve an area of perceived weakness, with tight end Colston Loveland. That includes passing on needs along the offensive and defensive lines, where a left tackle, defensive tackle, and defensive end.
All had been linked as speculative options in recent weeks and days. Instead, Loveland joins the Bears, who already had former second-round pick Cole Kmet in hand.
They also signed veteran former Miami Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe in free agency this offseason.
Colston Loveland Sends Strong Message as Bears Take TE in 2025 NFL Draft
Colston Loveland: National Championship to Bears 1st-Round Draft Pick
Loveland arrives with championship pedigree, and he spoke about that end the predraft process after his selection was made official.
“Michigan was a blessin. Blessing to be able to go there. Loved it there. Everything about it. The people, the town, the football, obviously,” Loveland told Clocker Sports on April 24. “We won that national championship, had a good couple years there. We did a lot. Wish, obviously, could have done better last year.
“This whole process has been amazing. … One of the few to get to go through this, and do this. So it’s a full blessing. I’m taking full advantage of it, and not taking it for granted. So, yeah, it’s super special.”
Loveland and the Wolverines won the national championship in 2024,
They defeated the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
He recorded 45 receptions, 649 yards, and 4 touchdowns that season, 3-64-0 in the title game, playing in a conservative offense under former head coach Jim Harbaugh, an ex-Bears quarterback. He came back in 2024 with a 56-582-5 line in 2024.
Loveland spoke about the current Bears quarterback, Caleb Williams.
The tight end raved about Williams’ arm talent and his excitement to team up with him next season.
The Bears’ next pick is No. 39 in the second round with No. 41 on deck. Bears general manager Ryan Poles and Co. could still target running back in the second, with the 2025 crop of prospects highly regarded coming into the event.
Bears Still Have Options & Needs
In what Poles said that he expected would be an eventful draft, the first round was relatively tame before the Bears went on the board, save for an early blockbuster trade that saw the Jacksonville Jaguars move up three spots to No. 2 overall for former Colorado Buffalo star Travis Tunter.
The Bears still have six selections in the 2025 draft.
This is after resisting the potential urge to trade up for previous speculative targets, such as running back Aston Jeanty and offensive linemen Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks Jr., who all came off the board before the Bears went on the clock.
Loveland’s selection is not a complete surprise. The former Wolverines tight end had been compared to Detroit Lions star Sam LaPorta frequently in recent weeks.
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson helped LaPorta rise to prominence quickly, including an 86-889-10 line and Pro Bowl appearance as a rookie. What Loveland’s rookie season looks like depends largely on Williams and how the Bears plan to use Kmet.
Kmet’s future may be the most interesting piece of the puzzle.
Suddenly, the Bears’ TE1, who is under contract through 2027, has a new first-round pick at his position.
Kmet is unlikely to reach the heights that he saw in 2023, when he had a career-high 73 grabs for 719 yards and 6 scores. The Bears also still have wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, and RB1 D’Andre Swift is no slouch in the passing game either.
That is not to say that both Kmet and Loveland will not be productive in 2025. Johnson’s Lions used 12 personnel – one running back and two tight ends – the most in 2024. However, if Loveland is LaPorta, Kmet might be relegated to a Brock Wright role. That yielded a 13-100-2 line on 16 total targets last season.