Colston Loveland predicted to have big rookie season with Bears
The Chicago Bears have several exciting rookies on the roster heading into the 2025 season, led by tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III. Both are expected to play key roles on offense in their rookie seasons, but Loveland is already generating high expectations.
NFL.com's Gennaro Filice projected his early 2025 NFL All-Rookie Team, where Loveland was the representative at tight ends. Loveland gets the nod over fellow rookie Tyler Warren, who Chicago passed on and who many believed was the top tight end in this draft class.
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"Standing 6-6, 241 pounds, Loveland is a tight end who runs routes with the fluidity of a wideout," wrote Filice. "That's what makes him special. And that's what made Sam LaPorta a rookie Pro Bowler under Ben Johnson in Detroit, so it stands to reason that Johnson will get the most out of Loveland in Chicago. With Cole Kmet in place to handle traditional in-line work, Johnson can let his beautiful football mind run wild when it comes to scheming up touches for his new toy. The Bears have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game, but I anticipate this supersized separator will get a fair share of attention from young quarterback Caleb Williams."
There are high expectations for Loveland heading into his rookie season, most notably that he gets to work with one of the NFL's brightest offensive minds in Ben Johnson. Loveland recently shared his impressions of Johnson and his "crazy mind," and it's clear the rookie is excited about his prospects in this Bears offense.
While Cole Kmet is a proven veteran on the roster, many expect Loveland to establish himself as the top receiving tight end at some point in his rookie season. If that's the case, the sky's the limit for Loveland, who has drawn comparisons to tight end Sam LaPorta, who was coached by Johnson in Detroit.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears TE Colston Loveland projected to 2025 All-Rookie Team
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Lance Briggs 2003-2014 1,181 total tackles, 97 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 24 QB hits, 16 interceptions (5 touchdowns), 84 pass breakups, 16 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown) Sep 15, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears outside linebacker Lance Briggs (55) reacts during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports If not for the Hall of Famer he played alongside for many years, Lance Briggs might be in consideration for the Bears' best linebacker this century (so far). Briggs was a mainstay of Chicago's defenses in the 2000s, playing all 12 NFL seasons with the Bears. In that span, Briggs totaled 1,566 tackles, 15 sacks, 16 interceptions and 18 forced fumbles. While Briggs did play most of his 12-year career alongside Urlacher, Briggs was nothing to scoff at. He was dominant in his own right, especially when it came to taking the ball away. 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Allen Robinson did that and more when he signed as a free agent in 2018. Robinson wasn't the biggest or fastest player on the field, but he was technically sound and caught pretty much everything thrown his way. Advertisement From 2018 through 2020, Robinson had the best three-year stretch of his career in Chicago. He caught 255 passes for 3,151 yards and 17 touchdowns and helped get the Bears to the postseason twice. His performance in the 2018 Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles set a team record for most receiving yards in a playoff game with 143. For a moment, it looked like Robinson was going to threaten Morris' career franchise record given his production and the possibility of an extension. That didn't happen as Robinson fell off his final season and bounced around the league for the next couple of years. Like other Bears receivers, his tenure didn't end the best, but there's no denying his overall production while in Chicago. Marty Booker 1999 - 2003, 2008 310 receptions, 3,676 yards, 22 touchdowns ATLANTA - OCTOBER 12: Marty Booker #86of the Chicago Bears celebrates during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on October 12, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) The final spot in our rankings was a toss-up between Marty Booker and DJ Moore, but we opted to go with the former thanks to his Bears longevity and consistent production in an era where passing wasn't as prevalent as it is today. Booker technically joined the Bears in 1999 but didn't break out until 2001, when he totaled 100 receptions (a team record at the time) for 1,071 yards and eight touchdowns. Advertisement Booker followed that up with another stellar season, totaling 1,189 yards and six touchdowns. That earned him Pro Bowl honors, the first for a Bears receiver since Dick Gordon in 1972. Booker was on his way to climbing to the top of the Bears' career receiving records but was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2004 for Adewale Ogunleye. The trade proved to be worth it for the Bears, and Booker got his swan song in Chicago when he returned on a one-year deal in 2008. Honorable mention: DJ Moore Bears All-Quarter Century Team 6/22: Quarterbacks 6/22: Running backs 6/23: Wide receivers 6/23: Tight ends 6/24: Offensive line 6/24: Defensive tackles 6/25: Defensive ends 6/25: Linebackers 6/26: Cornerbacks 6/26: Safeties 6/27: Specialists Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears All-Quarter Century Team: Wide receivers
