The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was a dream night for Michigan fans. The Wolverines saw three players selected in the top 15 and two in the top 10. The best pick, however, had to be tight end Colston Loveland going to the Chicago Bears with the 10th pick.
This pick was amazing because it was a wonder as to whether or not Loveland would leapfrog Penn State tight end Tyler Warren as the No. 1 tight end in the draft. As Michigan fans hoped, he did, and now the NFL is learning something that Michigan fans knew all along.
Loveland is an elite tight end, and Michigan fans will tell anyone who is willing to listen just that. In just three years at Michigan, Loveland had 1,466 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards per catch. The Bears got themselves an absolute weapon on offense for Caleb Williams, and now the NFL is seeing what Michigan fans have been talking about for years. absolute weapon on offense for Caleb Williams,
Colston Loveland is “The Locksmith” because no defense has the key to stop him.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 25, 2025
He is a matchup nightmare who had 75% of his catches go for a 1st down.
Red zone threat. Seam stretcher. Blocker with bite.
Caleb Williams got another WEAPON.#NFLDraft2025 #NFLDraft #NFL #RG3 pic.twitter.com/bvrn77PPTp
What a nickname "The Locksmith" is. Michigan may want to start making t-shirts wth that one. Robert Griffin III saw the potential in Loveland and loves this pick for the Bears.
Every year, there is a player who gets really hot really late, one that teams are scrambling to trade up for.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2025
Last night, that player was #Michigan TE Colston Loveland. When the #Bears picked him at No. 10, the calls in the early teens quieted. There wasn't a trade until 25.
Loveland was the player who got hot late before the NFL Draft, and it seemed like if the Bears had let him go, other teams weren't going to wait.
"My favorite pick of the draft so far is Colston Loveland to the Chicago Bears..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 25, 2025
I absolutely love this" ~ @PSchrags #PMSDraftSpectacular https://t.co/oVWDvViArR pic.twitter.com/ivCdDvkxOh
NFL analyst Peter Schrager called it earlier in the day that Loveland would go top 10, and the Michigan tight end snuck in right under the pick at No. 10. Some may say the Bears reached for this pick, but it seemed like many teams were high on Loveland.
New #Bears TE Colston Loveland was our #2 player in the entire draft class (excluding all QBs), after Hunter.
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 25, 2025
He's just a notch below Brock Bowers as a prospect, and he finished as the second highest graded TE I've ever graded.
GREAT value at #10. Awesome fit with Ben Johnson!
A comparison to Brock Bowers, who arguably had one of the best rookie seasons at the tight end position last season, is huge. Loveland may not have quite the size that Bowers has, but he is a true receiving tight end, which is what the NFL is beginning to see more and more of. The Bears wanted an offensive weapon and got exactly that.
Colston Loveland (my TE1) and Ben Johnson are a match made in heaven pic.twitter.com/VDl4oZj1Lt
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 25, 2025
It came down to Tyler Warren and Loveland as to who would be the first tight end taken in this year's NFL Draft, and Loveland won out.
Colston Loveland is a WR in a TE body. Mismatch nightmare with rare versatility.
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) April 25, 2025
Bears got it right. #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/jqmZmjlCpI
Loveland will be catching passes from Caleb Williams under a very offensive-minded head coach under Ben Johnson. With the way Loveland runs routes and can catch a football, this is truly a match made in heaven and a huge boost to the Bears' offense. The Bears saw exactly what Michigan fans have always seen.