As the 2025 NFL Draft comes to a close, the stories of the background of every player drafted are as fascinating as how they were scouted. Scouting in any professional sport is an inexact science. The players you least expected turn into a star despite shortcomings, while players with so much hype turn into a complete bust. It happens every year. Also, how these players were discovered when you are looking for someone else, or the least expected, is a story worth reading.
That was the case for the Chicago Bears, who stumbled upon tight end Colston Loveland while scouting Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy two years ago.
The Bears selecting Colston Loveland was years in the making
Adam Jahns of The Athletic wrote an interesting article (Subscription required) on how the Chicago Bears discovered their first-round pick, Loveland, while scouting quarterback J.J. McCarthy two years ago.
Led by McCarthy, Michigan was unbeaten in college football back in 2023, and beat both Alabama and Washington to win a National Championship. Still, USC's Caleb Williams was a consensus choice to be the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft as the Bears were seeking their franchise quarterback once again. But the Bears did their due diligence on McCarthy, which led them to discover Loveland.
Michigan relied on its tough defense and strong running game en route to a national title. They did not have to rely on McCarthy as much. But Loveland, a sophomore tight end with exceptional athleticism and hands, emerged as a reliable receiver for McCarthy. His standout performance in the 2023 season included 45 catches for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns, earning him first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Last season, Michigan stumbled to an 8-5 season while starting three different quarterbacks. They also named Sherron Moore the new head coach following the departure of Jim Harbaugh, who took the Los Angeles Chargers head coaching job. Loveland finished with 56 catches for 582 yards and 5 touchdowns while playing with a Type V AC joint dislocation in his right shoulder.
Fast forward to the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Bears selected Loveland with the 10th overall pick. This decision was probably influenced by the scouting reports from two years ago, and the Bears' new head coach, Ben Johnson, who attended the Michigan Pro-Day in person, compared Loveland to Sam LaPorta, another successful tight end he had coached in Detroit.
As the Bears' scouts prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft right before college football season begins, you can bet that their scouts already have some intel on several players they did not know while they were scouting someone else the last several years. Just like they discovered Colston Loveland.