The Chicago Bears used the No. 10 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft to select former Michigan Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland.
Their decision has been met with mixed reactions, as many draft decisions are.
Michigan HC Sherrone Moore Gets Honest About Bears TE Colston Loveland
Bears TE Colston Loveland a Complete Tight End
One of the knocks against Loveland is his prowess as a blocker. His former head coach, Sherrone Moore of the Michigan Wolverines, admits the passing game is where Loveland “excels,” but he offered remarks that suggest the concern may be overblown.
“You look at what we did in ‘23, we’re in 13 personnel a lot of games, and he’s playing in the backfield, he’s playing at the point of attack. I think he’s an extremely willing blocker. He’s not the 270-pound, big, “Ys” [tight ends] that are in the NFL, or offensive alignment. But he’s going to put his face in there, he’s going to do the dirty work, he’s going to be as physical as he can,” Moore told Clocker Sports on Friday via teleconference.
“Where he excels is in the pass game. And he has the ability to block, and he’ll be able to do that in the NFL and challenge people that way. But then, he’ll excel in the passing game.”
Loveland is the first tight end the Bears drafted in the first round since Greg Olsen (No. 31 in 2007) and joins former head coach Mike Ditka as one of three players selected by Chicago during the event’s opening turn. If he produces as those two did, the Bears will be happy.
“Colston Loveland is a WR in a TE body. Mismatch nightmare with rare versatility,” former Bears tight end Clay Harbor posted on X on April 25. “Bears got it right.”
The biggest question mark is Loveland’s impact on incumbent TE1 Cole Kmet and free agent pickup Durham Smythe.
Bears TE Topped Shrine Bowl Exec’s List
There is credence to the doubts about Loveland’s blocking prowess, with Pro Football Focus giving him no better than a 53.3 grade during his career. That mark came in 2024, which could be an encouraging sign given his raw tools and willingness. It still ranked 479th in the nation.
He is still 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds and will get stronger with an NFL health program.
Despite concerns that the Bears skipped over the No. 1 tight end of the class in Tyler Warren, who the Indianapolis Colts selected 14th, many draftniks had Loveland as TE1 in this class.
Eric Galko, director of football ops and player personnel for the Shrine Bowl, is among them.
“New #Bears TE Colston Loveland was our #2 player in the entire draft class (excluding all QBs), after Hunter, Shrine,” Galko posted on X on April 25. :He’s just a notch below Brock Bowers as a prospect, and he finished as the second highest graded TE I’ve ever graded.
“GREAT value at #10. Awesome fit with Ben Johnson!”
Johnson’s affinity for Loveland is the key.
Ben Johnson’s Comparison Hits & Misses Mark
Johnson has openly acknowledged there are parts of Loveland’s game that remind him of Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, whom he coached to a Pro Bowl rookie season.
“Really, with Colston, it starts with the person more so than the player. Listen, I love the tape. I love everything about the tape. But when you get to know him as a man, it’s really intriguing. It’s who we want to be going forward, in my opinion. He stands for high football character, IQ, intelligence, but he’s a great teammate. When we went to the University of Michigan, everybody was raving about him. To see how he conducted himself not only amongst his teammates, but walking through the building and interacting with equipment staff, and video staff, you could tell that he was so well-respected,” Johnson told reporters on April 26.
“I do see a lot of comparisons to LaPorta, but that’s not just on the field. That was off the field as well. Because with LaPorta, the stage was never too big or too bright. I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him. He doesn’t bat an eye. He performs at a high level.”
“As we talk about where we’re going as an organization, and we’re going to be playing in these big games with the bright lights, we need guys that are going to rise up to the occasion, and he’s going to do that for us,” Johnson said
However, there are some notable differences between the two.
First, Loveland is three inches taller than LaPorta, who is listed at 6-foot-3. That is a plus for Loveland in contested-catch situations, but also a potential hindrance in crowds.
Most notably, though, part of LaPorta’s value is that he was a third-round pick. That is a significant difference, not only in expectation due to the draft slot, but also because of the salary tied to each.
LaPorta inked a four-year, $9.5 million deal. Loveland will earn $26.6 million, per Over The Cap.