Expectations are high for the Chicago Bears entering the 2026 season, and the reason why is that they are coming off a really good season, with talented young players who should be able to keep things going. One of those talented young players is tight end Colston Loveland, and he’s already garnering respect after one season in the league.
Loveland was recently ranked the seventh-best tight end in the NFL in ESPN’s annual position rankings done by league execs, coaches, and scouts. While his presence on the list after one season shows his trajectory, a quote from a voter really captures how much the tight end is about to ascend.
An anonymous NFL personnel evaluator said, “[Loveland] could be the Bears' top receiver next year. Expect to see more two- or three-tight-end sets from Chicago this year.”
Colston Loveland expected to emerge as Bears’ top receiver
For Bears fans, this is definitely something they can see happening, because it kind of already did. Loveland, as a rookie, led the team in receiving yards with 713. However, he only had 82 targets, which was third on the team.
Chicago traded away D.J. Moore this offseason, and while the team still has Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, it’s no secret that the tight end position will be a big part of the offense. That was evident when the Bears drafted Sam Roush in the third round, despite already having Loveland and Cole Kmet.
In addition to the emphasis on tight ends, Loveland clearly built a strong rapport with quarterback Caleb Williams down the stretch of last season. As a rookie, the tight end had double-digit targets in only two regular season games, and they were the final two games of the year, when Loveland was targeted 10 times in Week 17 and 13 times in Week 18.
That trend continued in the postseason, with Loveland being targeted 15 times in Chicago’s Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers and 10 times in the Divisional Round.
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That’s likely a sign of what’s to come in 2026 and beyond. If Loveland can continue to deliver, he will be well on his way to superstardom as one of the NFL's best tight ends
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