Only 7% of Loveland's targets in 2024 came on screens -- compare that to 24% for Tyler Warren and 21% for Harold Fannin Jr. in their massively productive final CFB seasons. This is noteworthy because Loveland drew a target on 40% of his routes in his third season, even without the benefit of designed screen looks. That's an unheard-of rate for any position, but especially tight end. Fannin's best single-season rate was 39.3%. Before that, Trey McBride held the single-season record with a 32.4% rate. Loveland's 40% rate is brain-breakingly high. Michigan's offense averaged 56 passing yards in games that Loveland missed. It takes a special player to buoy up an entire offense. Ben Johnson emphatically making Loveland the first selection of his head coaching tenure with the 10th overall pick signals special talent, indeed. Johnson has already engineered one TE1 rookie season. In terms of untapped Fantasy upside after the "big three" at TE, Loveland is clearly the player most likely to ascend. Where to take the plunge in drafts is totally a question of risk tolerance. There's a good chance that Loveland is minimally productive in the early portions of his rookie season. However, his upside makes him worth targeting in the early double-digit rounds of your drafts.
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Fantasy News
Bears' Colston Loveland: Gets reps with first-team offense
Rotowire
Loveland had two receptions for 26 yards on as many targets in Sunday's preseason rout of the Bills.
Cole Kmet made his preseason debut, but Loveland still got some work in with the starting offense. In fact, the 10th overall pick in this year's draft caught QB Caleb Williams' first pass attempt of the evening. The more-experienced Kmet is expected to be the starting tight end this season, but Sunday showed us that Loveland will get worked into this new-look offense under Ben Johnson.
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Bears' Colston Loveland: Involved early in NFL debut
Rotowire
Loveland caught one of two targets for eight yards in Sunday's 24-24 preseason tie against the Dolphins.
Both of Loveland's targets came on the opening drive, as the Bears made it a point of emphasis to get the rookie 10th overall pick involved early, even with starting quarterback Caleb Williams resting Sunday. Loveland is projected to split snaps with Cole Kmet in the regular season, but the former's participation Sunday puts to bed any remaining concerns about Loveland's recovery from January shoulder surgery. Chicago's next preseason game against the Bills on Sunday, Aug. 17 could present Loveland's first opportunity to catch passes from Williams in a game situation.
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Bears' Colston Loveland: Impressing in 11-on-11s
Rotowire
Loveland (shoulder) took first-team reps in 11-on-11 drills Tuesday, Alyssa Barbieri of USA Today reports.
Loveland was eased into training camp during the first week of Chicago's practices, but he now appears fully recovered from January shoulder surgery, which had held him out of pre-draft workouts and spring activities. The rookie first-round pick has reportedly impressed early, including by recording a flashy third-down connection with quarterback Caleb Williams during 11-on-11 reps Tuesday. Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Loveland has displayed full confidence in his shoulder's strength and durability during both blocking and pass-catching reps. Head coach Ben Johnson had high praise of Loveland's early momentum, saying "it's really encouraging when you look at a young player like that and the growth that he's going to be able to have with the more reps that he gets."
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Bears' Colston Loveland: Does 7-on-7s
Rotowire
Loveland (shoulder) did 7-on-7 drills for the first time Saturday, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
The Bears are easing their first-round pick into training camp after January shoulder surgery held him out of pre-draft workouts and spring practices. The next big step for Loveland is full-team drills, which could come within the next few days. Participation in the first week of camp is a good sign he'll have time to ramp up and compete for a role before Week 1.
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Bears' Colston Loveland: May be eased into camp
Rotowire
GM Ryan Poles said Tuesday that Loveland (shoulder) is "ready to go" for the start of training camp, but there may be a ramp-up period for the rookie tight end, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Despite undergoing surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder in January, Loveland was the first tight end off the board in this year's draft, going to the Bears 10th overall. He proceeded to miss the entire offseason program and acknowledged last week that he may not be ready once camp kicked off. The Bears seemingly will ease him in with the goal of getting him ready for Week 1. Loveland will be vying with Cole Kmet for targets from second-year signal-caller Caleb Williams to begin his NFL career.
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Bears' Colston Loveland: Status uncertain for camp
Rotowire
Loveland (shoulder) said last week that his rehab is going well but he'll still need to test things during training camp, MLive.com's Aaron McMann reports.
The 10th overall pick in the 2025 Draft didn't participate in offseason practices after undergoing shoulder surgery in January. He said in June that he expected to be ready for the start of training camp, but Bears coach Ben Johnson sounded less confident about the matter. Chicago's rookies report Saturday, with veterans then joining Tuesday, so Loveland's progress some become clear at some point next week, although contact work and full-team drills may not start in earnest until the end of the month. Once healthy, Loveland will compete with returning starter Cole Kmet for playing time and targets.
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Bears' Colston Loveland: May not be full-go for camp
Rotowire
Bears coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday that he doesn't know if Loveland (shoulder) will be a full-go at the start of training camp, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Loveland said he should be ready, but Johnson didn't sound so sure. The 10th overall pick has been limited during Chicago's offseason program, with his recent workload including route-running on a side field. He underwent shoulder surgery in January, and while he's since resumed lifting weights and catching passes, he still needs to regain strength. Loveland said learning the Bears' playbook has been a bigger challenge than his rehab work so far.
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Bears' Colston Loveland: Not ready for rookie minicamp
Rotowire
Loveland (shoulder) is not participating in on-field work at rookie minicamp Friday as he continues to rehab from surgery undergone in January, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Loveland, the 10th overall pick of April's draft, is present at rookie minicamp and building familiarity with Chicago's offensive scheme and new quarterback Caleb Williams (wrist), but the tight end's workout availability is currently limited to running and controlled lifting, per Bair. The rookie first-rounder is expected to be ready for increased participation in mandatory minicamp in early June and to be fully cleared for training camp in July. Loveland is a capable blocker at 6-foot-6, 260-pounds, but he figures to make his largest impact as a mismatch in the receiving game, though DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and rookie second-round pick Luther Burden represent plenty of competition for targets. Cole Kmet played 87 percent of snaps last season and has two years remaining on the four-year, $50 million deal he inked with Chicago in 2023, but Loveland boasts the draft capital and skillset to push for the No. 1 role before long.
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Bears' Colston Loveland: Goes 10th overall to Bears
Rotowire
The Bears selected Loveland (shoulder) in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 10th overall.
Loveland becomes the first tight end off the board and the highest drafted tight end since the Falcons took Kyle Pitts fourth overall in 2021. The Michigan product is a nice fit in Chicago. He is a complete player at the position, with an ability to make plays in the passing game while also contributing in-line on blocking assignments. Loveland's stats aren't as gaudy as fellow first-round tight end prospect Tyler Warren's, but that's why context matters. Penn State made Warren the focal point of its passing attack, while Michigan did not have the passing game in place in 2024 to get much production out of Loveland, who finished his junior season with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. Cole Kmet is still on the roster, but the Bears using the 10th overall pick on Loveland is a sign that he is going to be involved early and often. Loveland can become a reliable option up the seam for Caleb Williams, though he'll have plenty of competition for targets with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze commanding huge shares. Lastly, Loveland's shoulder injury that kept him from testing at the combine is not expected to affect his availability for training camp.
