Windy City Gridiron
The bar was set high for Colston Loveland when he was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft. It may have taken some time for the offense to get going, but by the end of the year, Loveland was easily one of Caleb Williams’ most sought-after and dependable targets in the passing game. Clutch catches leading to critical first downs, and a thrilling game-winning touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals highlighted a rookie campaign from Loveland that saw the Michigan product amass 713 receiving yards on 58 catches, with 6 scores. The production has impressed the Chicago fanbase and has everyone excited to see what Loveland can put together in his sophomore campaign.
That performance impressed beyond Chicago though, with the first draft pick of the Ben Johnson era finding his way into the top 10 ranking of TEs in the NFL, according to ESPN’s recent survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts. Loveland’s highest ranking in the survey was 3rd, but was also left unranked in at least one response, ultimately landing at the #7 spot. Jeremy Fowler had this to say about Loveland’s ranking:
Loveland’s production over last season’s final four games showed exactly where his career is going: upward.
He gained 378 yards on 28 receptions (two for touchdowns) over his final four games, including the playoffs. His target share during that span was 29%. Loveland showed as a rookie exactly why several teams tried to trade up for the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft.
“He’s unbelievable,” an NFL coordinator said. “A smooth mover with toughness.”
Head coach Ben Johnson, who coached tight ends with the Dolphins and Lions, knows how to utilize Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet.
“[Loveland] could be the Bears’ top receiver next year,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “Expect to see more two- or three-tight-end sets from Chicago this year.”
Caleb Williams posted a 121.6 passer rating when targeting Loveland.
Notable names above/below Loveland in the ranking include:
Interestingly, the group of LaPorta, Warren, and Kraft all had a near identical range of rankings as Loveland (highest – 3rd, lowest – unranked or 10th). Suggesting the gap between 4th and 7th may not be very wide. It will be interesting to see how these rankings hold as the new season progresses.
Full results and player breakdowns can be found here.
