Setting Rookie Expectations For Colston Loveland
Writer’s Note: This is my first installment in a series where I will predict how the Bears’ rookie class will perform over the next two months.
First up, Colston Loveland.
Very few expected Colston Loveland to get the call when the Bears were on the clock with the tenth pick. Most had Tyler Warren as the top tight end, and others thought the team would continue fortifying the trenches. However, they landed on the Loveland, and you don’t have to squint to see why that was the case. The University of Michigan product wins in situations where Cole Kmet hasn’t (specifically in gaining separation through route-running), and that effectively allows them to bolster their arsenal without removing a weapon from the field.
As far as the Warren and Loveland comparison goes (get used to that one because this was the first draft in 52 years where two TEs were selected in the top half of the first round), I think the Bears made the right choice. First of all, Loveland (21) is two years younger than Warren (23). If Kmet stays in Chicago through 2026, then Loveland will be the age Warren is right now when he takes on a bigger role in the offense.
Meanwhile, Warren would be almost the same age as Kmet (26) is today.
That might seem insignificant, but I bet it came into play during the evaluation process. That matters when evaluating players, especially when a development period is expected.
Warren’s athleticism is more similar to Kmet’s, while Loveland has more juice in the open field. Warren might be tougher to bring down, but Loveland is a more natural separator and potential deep threat. I could also mention that it took Warren three years to outproduce Theo Johnson, even though they both arrived on campus in 2020, but I’m not sure if I could do that without sounding like a hater. So, since I’m taking the high road there.. I’ll just say Loveland is much more similar to Sam LaPorta, a Pro Bowler and Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist under Ben Johnson.
Some people expect a LaPorta-like season from Loveland out of the gate. After all, he was selected 24 spots ahead of the former Hawkeye and was universally considered an elite prospect in this year’s class. With that said, I think expecting a Pro Bowl season out of Loveland would be naive for a few reasons. For starters, Cole Kmet isn’t just going to disappear. He caught 47 of 55 targets, and Ben Johnson loves 12 personnel. He also won’t be able to put up Pro Bowl numbers anytime soon with the added competition, but he will surely be involved.
While on that topic, LaPorta didn’t have a tight end of Cole Kmet’s caliber when he arrived in Detroit. Brock Wright, who went undrafted two years prior, didn’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of defenses. Loveland eventually could (and definitely should) reach LaPorta’s level, but it will probably have to be in a post-Kmet world.
Another factor that comes into play when gauging Loveland’s ability to make a year-one impact is that TEs historically take longer to acclimate to the speed of the NFL.
The bar should not be set at Brock Bowers.
He is an anomaly of epic proportions. Trey McBride had 265 yards as a rookie. Dallas Goedert had 334. Tucker Kraft had 355. David Njoku had 386. The list goes on (and includes a who’s who of elite tight ends). Unlike linemen who have to know their blocking assignments or receivers who have to know what route to run, they require a firm understanding of both.
I do think Johnson will scheme plays for Loveland. However, I also fully expect him to scheme plays for Kmet, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze. I also think he will want to keep Luther Burden III happy. Swift will probably catch a healthy dose of passes out of the backfield. I could even see Olamide Zaccheaus carving out a niche role if the offense is firing on all cylinders. Long story short, there are a lot of talented players on offense and only one football to go around.
Could I envision a scenario where Loveland makes a massive impact right out of the gate, similar to what Sam LaPorta did in Detroit? Sure, but I definitely wouldn’t count on it.
Not while sharing reps with Kmet in an offense with a wealth of talent at receiver. However, I think Johnson will find a way to get the most out of every offensive weapon, even if the production is modest, with everyone eating into each other’s numbers. When all is said and done, I don’t think there’s any chance we will question whether Loveland is a bust by the end of the season.
Final Prediction: 46 catches, 540 yards, 4 TDs
PHOTO: Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images
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Categorized:Bears