{"id":19322,"date":"2025-04-24T21:58:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T02:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/?p=19322"},"modified":"2025-04-24T21:58:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T02:58:10","slug":"bears-choose-michigans-colston-loveland-at-no-10-in-2025-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/04\/24\/bears-choose-michigans-colston-loveland-at-no-10-in-2025-nfl-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Bears Choose Michigan’s Colston Loveland at No. 10 in 2025 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the 2025 NFL Draft<\/h2>\n

GREEN BAY, Wis. \u2014 When Bears general manager Ryan Poles volunteered his prediction that the first round of the NFL Draft could \u201cbe a little wild,\u201d he might have been thinking of his own plans. While they didn\u2019t shake up the top 10 quite as much as the Jaguars, they pulled a stunner at No. 10 by picking Michigan tight end Colston Loveland on Thursday.<\/p>\n

The Unexpected Pick<\/h2>\n

Not only was tight end far from the Bears\u2019 most pressing need, but every major mock draft had Penn State\u2019s Tyler Warren ahead of Loveland at the position. Perhaps the real wild card was new coach Ben Johnson, and this seems much more like a Johnson pick than something Poles would\u2019ve spearheaded.<\/p>\n

Coach Ben Johnson’s Influence<\/h2>\n

Loveland said he \u201cloved\u201d Johnson before he even met him just from watching what he did as Lions offensive coordinator the last three seasons and came away from their meeting at Michigan\u2019s pro day last month even more enamored. \u201cThe things they were doing \u2014 man, really smart,\u201d Loveland said. \u201cKnows what he\u2019s doing. Knows football… I\u2019m the No. 1 fan of that guy for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Playing Style and Expectations<\/h2>\n

Johnson schemed the league\u2019s most powerful offense and leaned heavily on formations with two tight ends, hinting at how he might play Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet together. Johnson told Loveland in their meeting that he reminded him of Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie under Johnson. The Lions traded two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson in 2022, then drafted LaPorta in the second round the next year.<\/p>\n

Talent and Background<\/h2>\n

Loveland, 21, is 6-foot-6, 248 pounds and played three seasons at Michigan. Over the last two, he totaled 101 catches for 1,231 yards and nine touchdowns. He was born in rural Washington and grew up in Gooding, Idaho, where he watched the draft with family and friends Thursday. The Bears plan to fly him in Friday and hold his introductory news conference at Halas Hall before the start of the second round, when they hold the Nos. 39 and 41 picks.<\/p>\n

Impact on the Team<\/h2>\n

Kmet is coming off his least productive season \u2014 47 catches, 474 yards and four touchdowns \u2014 since he was a rookie, but was on a promising trajectory before that. He has three years and $34.8 million left on his contract. Based on his talks with Johnson, Loveland expected dynamic formations with him and Kmet on the field together. \u201cYou see teams trying to get two well-rounded tight ends that can do a lot and put defenses in a bind, so I\u2019m super stoked to get in there and learn from him,\u201d he said of Kmet. \u201cHe\u2019s been doing it for a while, really good at it, so I\u2019m excited. He can be a mentor for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Draft’s Unexpected Turns<\/h2>\n

After the Titans opened the draft by taking University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the draft did indeed turn dramatic. Once that pick was official, the Jaguars pounced and shook up the draft by trading with the Browns \u2014 giving up a second-round pick in the deal \u2014 to move up from No. 5 to No. 2 and take Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. Hunter won the Heisman Trophy last season playing full-time at wide receiver and cornerback and plans to do both in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The Bears’ selection of Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was a surprising move that reflects the team’s new direction under Coach Ben Johnson. With Loveland’s talent and Johnson’s offensive strategy, the Bears are looking to create a formidable offense that can compete with the best in the league.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n