Bears use top-10 pick on Loveland

The Chicago Bears selected Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 10th overall.

It's Chicago's first pick under new head coach Ben Johnson.

Loveland spent three campaigns at Michigan and set a career high with 649 yards in 2023. He finished last season with 56 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns en route to an All-American second-team selection.

The 21-year-old is the first tight end drafted in 2025.

The Bears drafted quarterback Caleb Williams last year and have since added two promising first-round weapons around him in Loveland and receiver Rome Odunze.

Cole Kmet was Chicago's leading tight end last season with 47 catches, 474 yards, and four touchdowns in 17 games.

Pre-draft profile

Loveland is one of the best pure pass-catchers in this draft regardless of position. He's an excellent route runner who creates separation by setting up defenders and winning with quickness in and out of his breaks. Tight ends of his size typically don't possess the lateral agility he does. He's also a reliable finisher at the catch point, demonstrating strong hands and the ability to make difficult adjustments on balls thrown outside his frame. Loveland is certainly more finesse than power, and Michigan took advantage of his skill set by lining him up across the formation, including in the slot. That may create a perception that he's not an in-line player, but he's demonstrated an ability to hold his own as a run blocker from that spot - at least enough for teams to not worry about his fit. Loveland will make any offense better, and he has a chance to be one of the league's most productive tight ends from the outset of his career.