Football is a unique sport when compared to the other big ones in North America. Unlike basketball or baseball, it is far more specialized. Systems matter a ton. It isn’t just about a player’s talent, but also his fit within the scheme his coaching staff wants to implement. Yes, there are instances where a player is so good that the schemes don’t matter. Unfortunately, such types are rare. That is why teams must approach every draft not just looking for good players but for those who can mesh with the team vision. The Chicago Bears are no different.
GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson wanted great players. That said, they had to focus on the best ones who could help accelerate what they’re trying to build. Bucky Brooks is a former scout and has been a top draft analyst for NFL Network for years. He recapped the 2025 draft, pinpointing what he feels were the best player-team fits. There were notable ones, like Baltimore getting mercurial pass rusher Mike Green or Washington getting cornerback Trey Amos.
Yet one of the first pairings mentioned? Colston Loveland going to the Bears.
Colston Loveland · Michigan · TE (Chicago Bears)
The comparisons to Lions tight end Sam LaPorta might have convinced head coach Ben Johnson to take the Michigan standout as the first pick of his tenure. Loveland’s superb ball skills, route-running ability and positional flexibility make him an interesting chess piece for the Bears to utilize, creating mismatches when opponents are locked in on neutralizing other playmakers like DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, Luther Burden III and D’Andre Swift. With Loveland poised to dominate between the hashes on various in-breaking routes at intermediate range, Chicago has surrounded former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams with enough firepower to unlock his immense talent and potentially dominate in his second season.
Loveland was born to play for the Chicago Bears under Johnson.
From the outset, the new head coach showed that he is a major proponent of the tight end position. Over the past two years, he transformed Sam LaPorta into a star with the Detroit Lions. Yet this goes back even further. One of his mentors, Adam Gase, also loved weaponizing the tight ends. He did it effectively during his one season with Chicago in 2015, getting Martellus Bennett and Zach Miller both over 430 yards. Julius Thomas became a Pro Bowler with his help in Denver. This is something Johnson learned to embrace years ago. Now he aims to bring it to the Chicago Bears. All he required was the right talent. Loveland might be the most physically gifted he’s ever worked with at the position, which should be terrifying for opponents to come.
