The Chicago Bears weren't fading away from making big moves this offseason. Once Ben Johnson was named the head coach, Chicago made it a priority to add more explosion to the offensive end.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears decided to draft tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick. He missed OTAs and minicamps due to a shoulder injury. He underwent surgery in January to repair a dislocated AC joint in his right shoulder.
Despite being on the sidelines, ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported that Johnson believes Loveland will be cleared "at some point" in camp.
The sooner he gets on the field, the better it'll be for him ahead of his rookie season. Getting some padded reps is critical for him, but the Michigan product could be poised for a big role pretty quickly.
Colston Loveland Could Quickly Be a Starter for Bears
Yes, the Bears have Cole Kmet on the team, but there's a reason they took Loveland. They made him the first tight end off the board and are excited for the receiving ability that he'll bring to the field. He stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 248 pounds.
Loveland is a fluid mover in space with sticky hands to pluck the ball out of the air. He's a player who can be a matchup nightmare for linebackers and safeties in the league.
During his time as a Wolverine, he had 117 receptions for 1,466 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His numbers were limited due to shaky quarterback play at times and being in a run-heavy scheme.
Nonetheless, there's a reason why Johnson used his first-round pick on Loveland. Tight ends will be a pivotal part of this offensive unit, as we saw Sam LaPorta, who burst onto the scene with the Lions.
Under Johnson, LaPorta had 146 catches for 1,615 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
These stats could be a glimpse of what Loveland could have in store, but the first step is getting on the field. Once he does that, it won't take long for him to become a starter for the 2025 campaign.