How Will Colston Loveland Thrive in the Bears Offense?
When the Chicago Bears selected Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they didn’t just find another tight end. They landed a polished, dynamic weapon ready to supercharge Ben Johnson’s offense from day one. His potential and athleticism are enticing to this young Ben Johnson offense. Let's deep dive into what he can offer to the team.
Loveland isn’t a project. He’s not just a red-zone threat or a big-bodied blocker. He’s the complete package. He is a refined in-line player with clean technique, sharp route running, and serious toughness. In an offense that thrives on motion, play-action, and versatility, Loveland is a perfect plug-and-play fit. Johnson leaned heavily on tight ends during his Detroit days, helping turn Sam LaPorta into a rookie star. Now he gets Loveland, who might be even more advanced coming out of college.
Expect Loveland to be a real asset for quarterback Caleb Williams immediately. With his natural feel for finding soft spots in coverage and his strong, reliable hands, Loveland can be the safety valve Williams turns to when things break down. He’s the type of player who keeps an offense humming — moving the chains, chewing up yardage over the middle, and dominating in the red zone. He can be considered a very big slot receiver for a team that could use size.
Chicago’s tight end room is about to be a problem for defenses. With Cole Kmet already entrenched as a playmaker, Loveland joins him to create a true two-headed monster. Last year, Johnson’s Lions ran two-tight end sets, which is 12 personnel, on over 32% of their snaps. This is the third-most in the NFL, and that was with LaPorta and Brock Wright. Now, imagine Johnson is scheming up plays with Kmet and Loveland. Pure nightmare fuel for opposing linebackers and safeties.
Make no mistake: Loveland wasn’t drafted to replace Cole Kmet. He’s here to partner with him to give Johnson the flexibility to attack defenses in ways Chicago fans haven’t seen in years. The Bears' offense under Ben Johnson is being built to create mismatches everywhere, and Colston Loveland is a massive piece of that puzzle. There were upset fans, but if pro analysts are even considering this a home run pick, then Bears fans should be ecstatic.
With Loveland’s polish, athleticism, and football IQ, don’t be surprised if he quickly becomes one of Caleb Williams’ favorite targets and a major key to Chicago’s offensive breakout in 2025. This pick should not be frowned upon; Bears fans wanted change and a smart young offensive mind—this is what comes with it. When you can sign one of the smartest, most innovative-minded head coaches, then there shouldn't be backlash when he is drafting and signing players to support their dynamic schemes. Trust in Ben Johnson to elevate this team.
