Bears TE duo turned heads across the NFL and the latest rankings prove one of Chicago’s ascending stars is only getting started
Chicago Bears tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet were mentioned among the top tight ends in the NFL and the ranking for Loveland proves the team’s second-year star is only getting started.
There was a section of Chicago Bears fans that were on their heads last April when the Chicago Bears drafted tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft despite having veteran tight end Cole Kmet.
The Bears easily could have used that selection on a top defensive line prospect like Mykel Williams and Jalen Walker or traded back for one of the top remaining offensive tackles such as Josh Conerly or Josh Simmons.
Instead, head coach Ben Johnson used his first draft pick in the big chair to add a second tight end to his offense and it’s already proved to be the correct decision after just one year.
Colston Loveland is already well on his way toward being viewed as a top TE in the league
The reason the Bears drafted Loveland was his poise in late game-situations and his ability to make big time plays. Johnson knew his team would be playing in some big games and he needed a player he knew could deliver under the bright lights. Loveland was absolutely that guy.
On top of that, he was a matchup-nightmare Johnson could deploy all over the field in various formations. Loveland turned out to be a complete tight end as well, showcasing strong upside as a blocker that not many expected coming into the NFL.
“He’s unbelievable,” an NFL coordinator said. “A smooth mover with toughness.”
League executives, scouts, and coaches voted Loveland as the seventh-ranked tight end going into his second season. The only tight ends ahead of him are Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, Tyler Warren, and Tucker Kraft.
One could argue that Loveland should’ve been higher on that list. I am one of those people, as is one voter that had Loveland ranked third. The reason he came in that seventh is because one voter completely had him off his Top-10 ranking, which is insane.
Loveland was the top producing pass catcher on one of the top offenses in the league, and did even more as a blocker. All of which came in his rookie season, with basically no offseason to prepare after missing multiple weeks recovering from a shoulder surgery.
That unranked ranking shows Loveland has even more to prove going into his second season. Year 2 for tight ends is always a dip, as shown by LaPorta and Bowers in recent years. If Loveland can come out and play at the same level, or even exceed what he did in Year 1, he will universally be viewed as a Top-3 tight end.
As good as Loveland is and can be, don’t forget about Cole Kmet’s role in this offense
Yet, at the same time, don’t forget about Cole Kmet. Year after year, Kmet continues to be viewed as a fringe Top-10 tight end in the league and is the ultimate pro. Kmet could have freaked out after the Loveland selection and demanded a trade out of Chicago.
Instead, Kmet saw the vision of what the Bears were building and the role he still had in this offense. He’s as consistent as they come and was a steady presence for Chicago’s offense during the 2025-26 who delivered on big plays when his number was finally called.
“He’s still a quality player who’s friendly for a young quarterback, good in the run game,” a personnel executive with an NFL team said of Kmet.
The addition of Loveland did still lead to a dip in Kmet’s production and snap count, leading to some of the lowest totals he’s had since his rookie season in 2020. Yet, his value was still well appreciated around the league in the eyes of league executives, coaches, and scouts who still listed him as an honorable mention among the top tight ends in the NFL.
Could he be a more focal point and climb that list as a No. 1 tight end with another team? Sure. But, in Chicago, his value is still absolutely valued even if his role diminished.
Ben Johnson has a plan in place to feature all of his TEs on the field at the same time
If you haven’t been following along with any football experts and junkies this offseason, let me be the first to say that NFL offenses are getting ready to lean heavily into the multi-TE sets to combat modern defensive trends.
The Bears were already ahead of the curve last season with the usage of Loveland and Kmet (and Durham Smythe). So, this personnel executive should feel better soon.
“They need to find ways to get Kmet and Loveland on the field together,” that personnel executive said.
Last season, the Bears already had the fourth-most drop backs (184) and fifth-most rushing attempts (213) using two tight ends on the field while having the fourth-most drop backs (40) and seventh-most rushing attempts (62) with three tight ends on the field. The Los Angeles Rams far and away led the NFL in using three tight ends, and that’s a set the Bears are expected to feature significantly more after drafting another tight end in Sam Roush in the third-round.
That will make Johnson’s offense even more unpredictable and get each of the three tight ends on the field often and contributing. But, Loveland is going to be the guy the Bears’ offense relies on the most this upcoming season and the league is already on notice of that.
“[Loveland] could be the Bears’ top receiver next year,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “Expect to see more two- or three-tight-end sets from Chicago this year.”