Tight end has been a storied position in Chicago Bears history for a long time. You could argue the organization was the first to feature the modern version of dynamic pass-catchers with Mike Ditka in the 1960s. Since then, they’ve featured some really good players like Emery Moorehead, Desmond Clark, Martellus Bennett, and Greg Olsen. Yet all of them were individual standouts. None were part of a larger position group. For the first time, the Bears may have assembled a tight end room full of legitimate playmakers.
It started with Cole Kmet in 2020. The former 2nd round pick steadily developed into a solid receiving option while evolving as a blocker. While never a star, he was a weapon defenses couldn’t afford to ignore. Then Colston Loveland arrived as the 10th overall pick last year. His mix of dynamic speed, hands, and route-running made him almost an instant difference-maker in the passing game. Their success together drew the attention of former scout and longtime NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks, who placed the Bears tight end group into the top five best in the league.
Rank 4 – Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams’ spectacular sophomore season can be partly attributed to the Bears’ success in utilizing 12-personnel packages. Head coach Ben Johnson is on the verge of transforming Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet into an unstoppable pair that will force defensive coordinators to make tough decisions when attempting to slow a diverse offense with big-play threats all over the field. The TE tag team makes it nearly impossible for opponents to utilize bracket or double-coverage tactics on the perimeter, which should only help ascending WR1 Rome Odunze create even more problems.
In 2025, Loveland (6-6, 241) and Kmet (6-6, 257) combined for 88 catches, 1,060 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The duo should easily surpass those numbers this season, presuming more balls will head in their direction as Johnson continues to torment his play-calling foes by further embracing 12- and 13-personnel in his creative scheme. With third-round pick Sam Roush (6-6. 267) capable of stepping in as the TE3, the Bears have an emerging juggernaut with their big bodies on the field.
Were the Chicago Bears undersold at #4?
You could probably make a case. After all, both Loveland and Kmet made some absolutely clutch catches throughout last season. You had Loveland’s last-second stunner in Cincinnati, Kmet’s kill shot in Philadelphia, and of course, the 4th down prayer against the Rams to force overtime in the playoffs. Having the Las Vegas Raiders ranked ahead of them, despite finishing with the worst record in the NFL last season, feels a little unfair. That said, being ranked that high after just one season together is beyond promising.
Then you throw Sam Roush into the mix. Here is a young player who is already a stellar blocker from his time at Stanford. Yet when you watch closer, you see more athleticism and pass-catching potential than you may realize. Some see him as a carbon copy of Kmet. If that is true, the Bears offense is even more dangerous than it was last season. Defenses couldn’t contain Kmet and Loveland as a pair. They won’t have anybody left to account for Roush if he develops as hoped.
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Don’t forget the man pulling the strings.
Ben Johnson was lethal as an offensive playcaller in Detroit when he had one good tight end, Sam LaPorta. Now try imagining him with three. It’s bordering on unfair. Remember, the Bears also have pretty good players at wide receiver. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden are both explosive pass catchers in their own right. Add a top-five ground attack on top of it all, and you have the makings of perhaps the best offense in Chicago Bears history. That isn’t something modern fans ever thought would be possible.
No position group has evolved more over the past quarter-century in the NFL than tight ends. They went from a nice #2 or #3 weapon, who also served as an extra blocker, to the focal point of entire offenses. Now, the next stage in that metamorphosis is building the position depth, like you would at wide receiver. Los Angeles was already ahead of the game last year. Chicago took a major step toward catching up by drafting Roush. If everybody stays healthy, they’ll be coming for that #1 spot in the rankings soon enough.
