The Chicago Bears turned heads when they made their selection with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite Tyler Warren being on the board when the Bears were on the clock, the tight end many considered to be the best in this year's draft class, the team took Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.
Part of the intrigue of Warren for the Bears was his versatility. With Penn State's offense, not only did Warren line up as a traditional tight end, but he also lined up in the backfield as well as a slot wide receiver. It's that type of versatility that made a logical choice for Ben Johnson's creative offense. Instead, the Bears took a traditional tight end in Loveland.
Making things even more perplexing is how the Bears described Loveland's value to Johnson's offense.
Jeff King mentions the versatility of Colston Loveland being able to line up in 12 personnel as well as his ability to catch the ball. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) April 25, 2025
It seems like King is describing Warren as opposed to Loveland. With Michigan, Loveland played primarily as a tight end without the creativity that Warren had in Penn State's offense. In fact, Loveland's profile compares favorably to Cole Kmet's. Speaking of Kmet, Johnson does have a lean toward 12 personnel, so expect there to be plenty of times next season where the Bears' incumbent starting tight end and rookie tight end are on the field at the same time.
If the Bears truly were looking for versatility, Warren seemed like the obvious choice. Instead, Warren was taken at No. 14 by the Indianapolis Colts.
There is also a slight injury concern for Loveland. Loveland underwent shoulder surgery in January and isn't expected to be cleared until the end of July. That could put him at risk of missing the start of the season.
Regardless, one thing is clear: Ben Johnson's vision is the priority at Halas Hall. If Johnson wants a player, his influence will reign supreme.