The Scramble To Trade Up For Colston Loveland Was Bigger Than We Thought

The reactions to Colston Loveland being the Chicago Bears’ pick at 10th overall last month were surprisingly divided. From the media and fans, there was confusion. While the Michigan tight end was an obvious 1st round talent, many felt Penn State’s Tyler Warren was the better prospect at that position. That doesn’t even cover the fact Chicago didn’t focus on premium positions like left tackle or edge rusher. Snippets of what happened began leaking out in the days following the draft.

The general belief is that new head coach Ben Johnson primarily drove the Loveland pick. He saw the 21-year-old as a unique athlete with rare route-running skills for his position. It appears he wasn’t the only one. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network alluded to buzz that many around the league felt the same, with some teams trying to trade up in the 1st round to get him. Once Loveland came off the board, all calls stopped. Now, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN has brought further details to the table. Indeed, the scramble to get the tight end was far stronger than many realized.

Chicago quieted trade calls with the Colston Loveland pick at No. 10. I’ve heard from multiple teams who said the lack of a trade from Nos. 3 to 25 was due in part to Loveland going off the board. Had he made it into the teens, someone would have made a move. While Penn State’s Tyler Warren was the bigger name, Loveland’s traits and upside drove week-of-draft buzz that he was the top tight end in this class.

Colston Loveland has traits that don’t come around often.

Plenty of tight ends are good athletes who can catch passes. They often win due to size and strength. Then there are a select few who not only have the size but are shockingly nimble with their feet, able to create separation like a wide receiver. That label belongs to a very small collection of names. Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, Jason Witten, and Travis Kelce fit that profile. Three of those names are in the Hall of Fame, and the other two pretty much have the gold jackets locked up.

This is the type of talent Colston Loveland is. Obviously, he has lots to prove before we start having those conversations, but it doesn’t change the fact that athletes like this don’t come around often. Chicago saw a glimpse of it 15 years ago with Greg Olsen. He went on to multiple Pro Bowls in Carolina. Loveland can be better.