LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – At the University of Michigan’s pro day workout in March, new Bears head coach Ben Johnson and 21-year-old tight end prospect Colston Loveland met and exchanged hopes for their future.
Loveland had watched Johnson build and lead the Lions offense from 2022-‘24, and he admired how Johnson maximized his personnel in Detroit. In particular, Loveland noticed how Johnson turned tight end Sam LaPorta into a Pro Bowl player.
“You remind me a lot of him,” Johnson told Loveland, referring to LaPorta.
That’s one of the reasons the Bears were drawn to select the 21-year-old Loveland at No. 10 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday evening. They believe he can be a dynamic weapon in Johnson’s new offense. Loveland is a 6-foot-6 target who can stretch the field, and he’ll be a key figure in Johnson’s plans.
The Bears had a few intriguing options with the 10th overall pick, including the choice between Loveland and Penn State star tight end Tyler Warren, the reigning Mackey Award winner whom many believed was the top player available at the position.
There was plenty of internal dialogue about Loveland and Warren, Bears general manager Ryan Poles said, but the belief was strong that Loveland could provide more for the Johnson-built offense. Warren was selected four picks later by the Colts at No. 14 overall.
“It’s versatile,” Poles said. “You can do whatever you need to do. You can run the ball and play a physical brand of football. If you match that with a more physical, bigger personnel group, well, you have a mismatch on your hands as well. So, it’s multiple, and it allows Ben to do what he does best, which is to have a physical brand of football but also be creative and do some things that are going to put teams in a pickle.
“Both really good players. There’s a lot of conversations there, back and forth. Tyler’s going to be a great football player as well. Just in terms of what fits what we want to do a little bit better with the personnel group we have here on our roster, we thought that the combination of what we have was the benefit.”
The Bears believe Loveland will pair well with veteran tight end Cole Kmet to form a tandem that will allow Johnson to utilize 12 personnel packages. Under Johnson’s direction, the Lions operated with multiple tight ends on nearly 35% of their offensive plays last season.
“You’re able to create mismatches, whether it be in the run and the pass,” Bears senior director of personnel Jeff King said. “You’re not as predictable. Going way back, the more you can create balance – both in terms of personnel but run-pass ratio – that’s only going to help the quarterback. The more that we can be unpredictable in the way that we use those guys, the better that it’s going to be for everybody.”
When Poles scouted Loveland, he was impressed by his consistent hands, which have helped make him a downfield weapon. Poles inquired with Loveland about how he developed such a trait. Loveland referenced putting up wired fences on farmland while growing up in Idaho.
On Thursday, Loveland watched the NFL Draft back home in Idaho, surrounded by friends and family. His community watched and cheered as well as the Bears made their selection.
When he touches down in Chicago, Loveland plans on bringing his Idaho roots with him.
“Humility, work hard, do the right things,” he said. “I’m obviously going to continue to do that and just strive.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.