Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland proved last season that he has the potential to be one of the NFL's best at the position.
A slow start had people worried right off the bat, but Loveland thrived in the second half of the season and became Caleb Williams' favorite target. Pro Football Focus writers Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick ranked the top tight ends in the NFL, with Loveland ending up at fifth.
"After a quiet start to his rookie campaign, Loveland really turned it on in the second half of the season. The No. 10 overall pick’s 84.0 PFF grade was third among all tight ends in the NFL, while his 1.97 yards per route run were fifth. Loveland’s 597 receiving yards from Week 9 on were second in the league, while his 193 yards in the playoffs led all tight ends despite the Bears losing in the divisional round."
Colston Loveland is starting to have everyone believe in him
Last season, Loveland finished with 713 yards and six touchdowns, both of which led the Bears. In the final four games, Williams targeted Loveland at least 10 times. It was the Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals that changed Loveland's season around after going for 118 yards and two touchdowns, including catching the game-winning score with less than a minute left.
Things will be different in 2026 for Loveland, as many consider him to be the number one option in the passing game. DJ Moore was traded, and Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III are the new top two receivers on the team. Still, Loveland is believed to be the top target in the offense.
Loveland has great hands and is fluid in his route-running. He's also proven to be a good blocker in the pass game and when the Bears run the ball.
At tight end, Loveland has veteran Cole Kmet and rookie Sam Roush as his backups. All three might end up on the field together at some point in the regular season, but there's no question that Loveland is at the top of the depth chart.
Read more: Bears’ Week 1 showdown took a turn no fan saw happening
Year 2 for Loveland is a big one, as he tries to keep the momentum going from last season. If he repeats what he did in the second half of the 2025 season, he could end up finding his way onto the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams by the end of the year.
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