ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky has Colston Loveland accomplishing a historic feat in 2025 that escaped both Brock Bowers and Sam LaPorta
The Chicago Bears have a lot of high hopes for first-round pick Colston Loveland in Ben Johnson's offense.It couldn't be a better situation for the big-body receiving threat getting to work with an innovative play-caller while catching passes from quarterback Caleb Williams. It also helps playing alongside Cole Kmet at the position, although that might […]
The Chicago Bears have a lot of high hopes for first-round pick Colston Loveland in Ben Johnson's offense.
It couldn't be a better situation for the big-body receiving threat getting to work with an innovative play-caller while catching passes from quarterback Caleb Williams. It also helps playing alongside Cole Kmet at the position, although that might hinder his overall production in 2025.
Johnson's scheme does run a high percentage of 2-TE sets compared to the league average, and Loveland seems to be in the running to see more snaps as the third-down passing option over Kmet.
When the Bears drafted Loveland, Johnson noted he saw similar traits in him that he saw in Sam LaPorta, his former tight end with the Detroit Lions.
"I do see a lot of comparisons to LaPorta, but that’s not just on the field. That was off the field as well, because with LaPorta, the stage was never too big or too bright," Johnson explained. "I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him. He doesn’t bat an eye. He performs at a high level. And as we talk about where we’re going as an organization, and we’re going to be playing in these big games with the bright lights, we need guys that are going to rise up to the occasion, and he’s going to do that for us.”
Being able to shine in big moments and on the biggest stages would certainly put the Bears' rookie tight end on the national map, which goes a long way in receiving votes for end of season awards. Even before playing a snap in Chicago, one expert predicts a league-wide honor is already on the way for Loveland.
ESPN's Dan Orlovsky predicts Colston Loveland will win Offensive Rookie of the Year
Last week, multiple ESPN reporters, personalities, and analysts got together to break down the rookie class entering the league. Part of the article included predicting the rookie awards on both sides of the ball. The majority of predictions for Offensive Rookie of the Year went to either Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty or Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward.
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky had the most surprising pick, going with Loveland as his offensive rookie of the year for 2025.
"The middle of the field and play-action should be huge areas of attack for Chicago. Loveland can replicate Sam LaPorta's rookie year production, which Bears coach Ben Johnson played a big role in scheming up while in Detroit." – ESPN's Dan Orlovsky
History is not on Loveland's side to win OROTY
Even if Loveland matches LaPorta's record-breaking 2023 numbers, winning offensive rookie of the year is going to be a long-shot for the Bears tight end. In 2023, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud earned 48 of 50 first-place votes and 246 points from voters, winning the award in a landslide. LaPorta wasn't even second in the voting with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua earning more points.
The no-love for rookie tight ends continued in 2024. Raiders first-round tight end Brock Bowers surpassed LaPorta's historic 2023 season in many categories with a phenomenal year of his own but still lost out on the award to Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who won by a wide-margin, earning 48 of 49 first-place votes. Bowers received one first-place vote and 31 second-place votes.
To see the side-by-side comparisons, here are the stats and records LaPorta and Bowers posted during their rookie campaigns:
Sam Laporta:
– 86 receptions (Set NFL record by a rookie TE, passed by Bowers)
– 889 receiving yards
– 10 receiving touchdowns (3rd rookie TE ever to reach 10+ touchdowns)
Brock Bowers:
– 112 receptions (Set NFL record by any rookie)
– 1,194 receiving yards (Set NFL record by a rookie TE)
– 5 receiving touchdowns
Clearly, if Loveland wants to be the one to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year, he's going to have to have the best receiving season ever by a rookie tight end, and even that might not be enough. For full context, no tight end has ever won the award.
And it doesn't help Loveland's going to have steep competition with Ward, Jeanty, Travis Hunter, Tet McMillan, Matthew Golden, and other talented offensive rookies to go up against in the voting. Not to mention a loaded offense in Chicago. It's wishful thinking by Orlovsky but kudos for being different.
Breaking down why Colston Loveland was the right pick for the Bears in the first-round and his potential in Ben Johnson’s offense
He’s going to elevate the entire offense.
