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Colston Loveland in Chicago: Bears Offensive Strategy

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Ron Luce | Last updated May 5, 2025 7:24 PM ET

Although it is becoming a widely accepted and exciting selection, the Chicago Bears' addition of Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was a bit of a head scratcher. However, the more one dives in to the player, the faster they will understand that he is a weapon rather than simply a tight end.

In fact, Loveland might be Johnson's idea to fill a huge role in the offense. In his time as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator, Johnson consistently used his third receiver as a blocker and loved working with two tight ends. However, those players were two separate players in the offense, with Josh Reynolds/Tim Patrick/Khalif Raymond and Brock Wright serving those respective roles. In the Bears offense, those two roles may be one player.

Insert Colston Loveland. Again, we're looking at Loveland as a weapon, not as a position-limited tight end. Loveland is a capable blocker, meaning he can move inline to give Ben Johnson his two-tight end sets while still being able to create mismatches with him in the slot and on the outside.

Loveland again could’ve easily half assed this block on the backside of the play yet his effort and technique sprung a huge touchdown https://t.co/xGY7UTgWWt pic.twitter.com/5qO56leJpx
— NOT Ashton Jeanty’s Agent (@TommyK_NFLDraft) April 30, 2025

Loveland isn't afraid to block, displaying the exact tenacity that Ben Johnson loves. Loveland can be sent in motion as a lead-blocking option, work on the outside as a point-of-attack blocker for receiver screens, and naturally work his way into the receiving game. Whether he's inline, in the slot, or outside, Loveland can attack defenses from multiple different angles.

Ben Johnson wants to "make the same things look different and different things to look the same", as said on Pardon My Take, and Colston Loveland is another chess piece that elevates the creativity that Johnson can work with.

So for the Bears fans trying to comprehend the Loveland pick, think about it this way. The big 6-foot-5 pass catcher is listed as a tight end, but really he should be considered for that utility spot on your fantasy football team. He's going to play all over the formation, and create mismatches in different ways for one of the best play callers in the NFL.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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