What's done is done. The Chicago Bears selected Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ultimately, this begs the question: Why didn't the Bears just draft Penn State tight end Tyler Warren?
Bears fans were rooting for the team to draft Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, which would have been a dream come true for many reasons. But the cards just weren't on the table for this to happen. Instead, the best player available when it was their turn was Warren, and the Bears went with Loveland instead.
This move could end up haunting the Bears in the near future. Warren was projected to go in the top 10 of the draft, per NFL dot com. It's a miracle he even fell that far for the Bears to select him at 10, and they went with Loveland instead.
Loveland's injury history is also a big reason why. In his last year with the Michigan Wolverines, Loveland suffered a gruesome shoulder injury that required offseason surgery in January to repair his AC joint, per Sports Illustrated. Draft prospects almost always bounce back from injuries. But Loveland will face an uphill battle to see the field. Meanwhile, Warren would have been ready for the rookie minicamp on day one.
Colston Loveland will be compared to Tyler Warren for the rest of his career.
Warren, a bona fide star at Penn State, was one of the best tight end prospects this year. The immediate impact he could have made with the Bears is similar to what Brock Bowers did with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
One of the most decorated tight ends in college football over the last decade, Warren won the John Mackey Award and was a first-team All-American. Warren's NFL comparison heading into Draft Day was Rob Gronkowski, according to CBS Sports. That should tell you all you need to know. His highlight reel is a thing of beauty, showcasing his pass-catching ability, route running, and versatility.
Having a dynamic playmaker like Warren would have opened up the offense for first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Besides being Caleb Williams' safety valve, Warren's versatility would have enabled him to line up just about anywhere on the field, which is how Penn State utilized him in Happy Valley.
Overall, drafting Loveland over Warren is a shocking move by the Bears' front office. Only time will tell if the Bears made the right move. Right now, however, the Bears' decision on the opening night of the draft is leaving a lot of Bears fans scratching their heads.