The Chicago Bears entered draft weekend teeming with optimism, confident the capital they had to work with could produce significant results in their ongoing process to build a playoff roster. The festivities began Thursday night with general manager Ryan Poles selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick.
As the Bears continue to assemble their 2025 draft class, the Tribune is offering a pick-by-pick snapshot of what each player added to the roster has to offer.
2025 Bears picks
- Round 1, No. 10: Michigan tight end Colston Loveland
- Round 2, No. 39 (from Carolina Panthers)
- Round 2, No. 41
- Round 3, No. 72
- Round 5, No. 148
- Round 7, No. 233 (from Cincinnati Bengals)
- Round 7, No. 240 (from Minnesota Vikings through Cleveland Browns)
Most recent selection
Round 1, No. 10: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Height, weight: 6-6, 248
Why the Bears drafted him
Three offensive tackles — Will Campbell, Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks Jr. — were gone by the time the Bears selected. Running back Ashton Jeanty was also off the board, picked sixth by the Las Vegas Raiders. Still, Poles landed a nice toy for new coach Ben Johnson with a dynamic pass-catcher who should quickly become a friendly target for young quarterback Caleb Williams. Loveland’s 2024 production (56 catches, 582 yards, five touchdowns) wasn’t eye-popping. And per some league talent evaluators, his overall strength registers as merely average. But he is at his best as a route runner, using impressive speed and fluidity to consistently create separation. Loveland can be used as an in-line tight end or spread out wide and should mesh well with the Bears’ other established pass catchers — DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and fellow tight end Cole Kmet. Loveland’s versatility appealed to the Bears, who see the ability to pair him with Kmet in two-tight-end sets while keeping opposing defenses off balance.
In his words
Loveland is thrilled to be joining forces with quarterback Caleb Williams, who quickly called him Thursday night after the Bears made their pick. “Stud,” Loveland said. “I love his game. Just watching him all throughout college, he is that man. I am super excited. The arm talent on him. He’s super smart. He does everything the right way from what I can tell. I’m looking to build that bond and just get with him to help the Bears win.”
Analyst’s take
“He’s someone who can really, really run. He can get in and out of breaks. Fluid for a bigger guy. He can go get it with a huge catch radius. He’s also tough and physical after the catch. And in the run game he does enough. He stays connected and shows want-to.” — NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah
From the front office
Senior director of player personnel Jeff King, who played tight end in the NFL for eight seasons, is more than qualified to offer expert analysis of what makes Loveland dynamic as a route runner. King lauded Loveland’s smooth footwork and ability to get out of breaks and get back to the ball while distancing himself from his defender. “He gets negative on cuts probably as well as anyone I’ve been around,” he said.
King also likened Loveland to former Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap, who King played with for two seasons in Arizona. “He’s able to seperate at the top like that,” King said. “I’m not putting him in the Hall of Fame yet or (calling him) a Ring of Honor-type player. But those types of skills as a separator is what stands out.”
You should know
Loveland grew up in Gooding, Idaho, (population 3,802) and was a four-year varsity standout at Gooding High School, where he set a single-game record for receptions with 19. His small-town origins are quite the contrast to the landscape he will walk into in Chicago. But King lauded Loveland for his personality. “You get the feel of Gooding, Idaho,” he said. “Tough, smart. But he has a presence. He’s competitive. All the things we’re trying to build here, he encompasses as a person.”
