Chicago Bears get massive news on top rookie from stellar 2025 class

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Feb 17, 2026 2:59 AM ET

The Chicago Bears, and general manager Ryan Poles have built one of the NFL’s most exciting collections of young talent.

Beyond ascendent star Caleb Williams at quarterback, Poles and the Bears have mined the past two NFL Drafts to surround the former Heisman Trophy winner with impact players at the skill positions while deploying massive resources to overhaul the offensive line in front of him last offseason.

Now, after a stellar rookie campaign, one of Williams’ most explosive pass-catchers is garnering major national praise.

Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland was NFL’s highest-graded rookie

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland made an immediate impact, finishing as the team’s leading receiver and developing an instant chemistry with Williams that only got stronger as the season went along.

According to Pro Football Focus, Loveland wasn’t just the focal point of Chicago’s passing game, but the highest-graded rookie in the league.

The highest-graded rookie in the 2025 season:

COLSTON LOVELAND pic.twitter.com/X7L2ZU9Hxz

— PFF (@PFF) February 12, 2026

PFF gave Loveland an 84 overall grade, after the former No. 10 overall pick in last spring’s NFL Draft caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns.

According to Pro Football Focus, Williams posted a stellar 123.1 passer rating when targeting Loveland, whose 9.5 yards Average Depth of Target was second among tight ends across the NFL.

Given the impact Sam LaPorta had on Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s offense in Detroit, Loveland’s upside is off the charts, and his rookie season has the potential to be merely a launchpad rather than a ceiling for his impact on the Bears’ offense moving forward.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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