The Chicago Bears made waves with their decision to make former Michigan Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but at least one noteworthy skeptic has come around. Loveland is one of three tight ends the Bears have ever drafted in the first round.
Some speculated he could be second off the board in his own class. Instead, the Bears made Loveland TE1 of the 2025 class, and Kurt Benkert understands why.
Ex-Packers QB Praises Bears TE Colston Loveland
Kurt Benkert Sees Vision on Colston Loveland
“After meeting #Bears TE Colston Loveland I get why they took him Top 10,” Benkhert posted on X, along with an image of himself chatting with Lovleand for a “Madden 26” video game promotion on May 16. “Absolute unit, knows ball, and can play a bunch of different spots.
“I believe he’s going to be a MAJOR asset for that offense.”
Benkert, founder of The Dime Lab, which offers sports gear and tutorials, and an affiliate with SleeperHQ, was also an NFL QB who played for, among others, the Green Bay Packers.
He last played for the Packers in 2021 and was cut in 2022, but Benkert has not shied away from calling the Bears out or even relaying potential intel about the status of the locker room amid disarray.
His ex-Packers teammates Equanimeous St. Brown and Marcedes Lewis are recent Bears.
Benkert even doubted the Bears’ decision to select Loveland where they did, expressing his belief they could have traded back and still landed him.
Benkert praised the Bears’ draft and even considered that they might be “back” before the 2025 draft, which they “crushed” following an active free agency period and the hiring of Ben Johnson away from his Detroit Lions offensive coordinator role to be their head coach.
“Ben Johnson to the Bears is the hope that Chicago needed,” Benkert posted on X in January after the hire. “It’s the right move for them, and a MASSIVE loss for Detroit.”
Bears Hype Colston Loveland
Johnson touted Loveland’s character and unflappable nature, adding them to the various comparisons made between the Bears’ rookie and Lions tight end Sam LaPorta.
“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,” Johnson told reporters on April 26.
“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.”
Bears general manager Ryan Poles also raved about Loveland’s competitiveness.
Poles also touted Loveland’s blocking as “better than I think people realize,” and that the rookie “pairs well” alongside incumbent TE1, Cole Kmet.
“Someone that we’re really excited about. Both the coaching staff and the front office coming together, identifying a guy that we really liked, that we thought had a dynamic skill set, create mismatches. I think more importantly, too, is in terms of our offense can … really beef up our 12 personnel,” Poles told reporters on April 24.
“He’s going to add a ton of value to our offense and our entire team.”
Loveland was limited during rookie minicamp after undergoing shoulder surgery in January, but he told Clocker Sports that he is “itching” to get back to the more physical aspects of the game.