Chicago Bears NFL Draft Target: Colston Loveland

Tanner Pearson - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Tuesday, April 22 2025

When it comes to the 2025 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears will again be the center of attention, and this time, it's the good kind of attention. After securing the No. 10 pick in next week's draft, the Bears went on to have one of the best, if not the best, starts to the offseason and instantly changed the fortunes of this franchise.

That all started with Ben Johnson's hiring and trickled down to the trade market and free agency. With that aspect of the offseason now complete, the Bears can shift their focus to the draft, and that is where things could get interesting. Not only do the Bears pick 10th, but they also have three additional picks inside the top 75, as they are positioned to add plenty of talent.

Along with that comes the ammo to make trades, as the Bears could package something together to move up the board should they see someone they like. Who that some would be is a topic for another day, but one thing is for sure. Expect the unexpected with the Bears, as no one knows what this team will do.

If you ask most fans, despite this team's offensive line additions, they would love them to go out and get one more as that would be the icing on the cake. It could happen, but you continue to hear Tyler Warren's name linked to the Bears, which could make their first-round selection more of a best player available type of move.

If that is the case, that could continue into the second round, where a guy like Colston Loveland comes into play, as he would be a great day-two target for this team. With Cole Kmet as the Bears' primary TE, adding a tight end doesn't seem like a priority, but with Gerald Everett no longer in the mix, the Bears could use a backup.

Not only would Loveland be that guy, but he would also be far better than a normal backup and could play himself into a more regular role by the season's end. The massive 6-6 248 248-pounder has the height you look for in an NFL tight end, but his overall size (weight) is a concern, as he could use about 10 more pounds on that frame.

Playing in a run-first offense that tends to struggle on offense, Loveland made the most of the chances given to him as he was often the top receiving weapon on the Wolverines' offense. He finished the 2024 season with 56 catches, 582 yards, and five touchdowns, all career-high marks.

You then look at what he did for his career, and you can see the ability Loveland brings to the table as he finished with 117 catches, 1,366 yards, and 11 TDs during his tenure. Listed as the No. 2 tight end in this year's class behind Warren, it's a mystery where he will fall in this draft, but most experts have him as an early-day 2 guy who could play to the Bears' hands.

Pairing Loveland with Kmet would not only give the Bears a great 1,2 punch, but it would also have the potential to be one of the better tight end rooms in the NFL. Already an above-average athletic player, Loveland is one of those players who can become an elite pass-catching talent, which could transform any offense and take it to the next level.

NFL draft expert Lance Zierlein had this to add about Loveland.

"Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels," Zierlein said. "He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option.”

That sounds like the perfect Ben Johnson-esque player, as he is a piece that could be moved all over the offense. He would be another weapon Caleb Williams would have at his disposal, and essentially, he could be the safety value that Keenan Allen was throughout the 2024 season. There are far worse moves for the Bears to make than Loveland, and considering the fit, he is something worth watching on draft weekend.