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On the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears made a move that, on the surface, looks like a head-scratcher: They selected tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th pick when they already had an established starter at that same position on the roster in Cole Kmet.
The team gave Kmet a four-year, $50 million contract extension less than two years ago. When they drafted Loveland on Thursday night, they left other talented players on the board at positions of need, such as defensive line players Mykel Williams, Jaylon Walker, Kenneth Grant, and Walter Nolen.
It begs the question of what Chicago saw in Loveland.
Dreams ➡️ Reality pic.twitter.com/HNSAXM8kig
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 25, 2025
According to experts, it’s more about Loveland, whom they believe gives the Bears a player they don’t have on their roster – one with superior athleticism who compares to another star player with the Detroit Lions.
“Look at what Ben Johnson did with Sam LaPorta when he was the Lions’ offensive coordinator: That’s who Loveland will be in Chicago,” said ESPN Draft Analyst Matt Miller.
Pro Football Network NFL draft analyst Ian Cummings agrees, adding that Loveland, who played injured last season, is a “true X-factor with all-encompassing alignment versatility and dynamism in the pass game.”
”Yes, the Bears have Cole Kmet – but Loveland is a different, and much less common, type of player. That’s where his value lies for an emerging Chicago squad.”
So, while Kmet may appear to be the biggest loser after day one of the draft, Loveland doesn’t exactly replace him. The Bears can play both tight ends simultaneously in an offensive formation called 12 personnel (1 running back, two wide receivers, two tight ends), which allows them to be a more versatile offense, either running the ball or creating mismatches with their talented pass catchers.
After Thursday, Williams and the offense appear to be the biggest winners.
After getting experienced linemen In free agency to protect their young quarterback, they draft what many believe is the one player who can truly take their offense to another level.
Said NFL Media Analyst Bucky Brooks; Johnson “is building this offense to elevate second-year QB Caleb Williams,” calling Loveland a dominant middle-of-the-field target.
Miller’s post-draft assessment echoes the same belief.
“As Chicago looks to build around quarterback Caleb Williams, the offense now has Loveland, Cole Kmet, Rome Odunze and DJ Moore. That collection of talent for Johnson and Williams to work with is exciting,” Miller said.
Because the Bears play in the NFL’s most competitive division, scoring points will be a premium. With Loveland, they acquired a player to help them keep pace with the high-powered offenses in Green Bay, Minnesota, and, of course, Detroit.
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