Turns Out The Colston Loveland Pick Started Almost Two Years Ago

Usually, the intrigue of a player and his future NFL starts several months before the pick in the draft takes place. A player performs well during a season. Scouts relay this to the GM and coaching staff. They do extra homework on said player and eventually draft him. That has been the case many times for the Chicago Bears. However, it appears Colston Loveland was different. While many fans didn't know much about the Michigan tight end until the pre-draft process started in January, it was far different for the team itself.

According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, both GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson had been monitoring Loveland for almost two years. It began during their prep work for the 2024 draft. Chicago was, of course, watching quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Detroit was likely eyeing cornerback Mike Sainristil. Both couldn't help but have their eyes drawn to Loveland, who was McCarthy's favorite and most reliable target.

Once the opportunity arrived to grab him, they didn't hesitate.

Last year, the Chicago Bears’ extra work on the quarterback class — the due diligence required beyond Caleb Williams — introduced them to one of their new weapons.

When the Bears watched quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Michigan, they also noticed tight end Colston Loveland.

“This kid stood out as just a different type of player,” general manager Ryan Poles said.

In Detroit, where the Lions had quarterback Jared Goff playing well in the second stop of his career, then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson saw the same during his 2024 draft prep.

“When you’re studying other players — call it J.J. McCarthy last year — yeah, (Loveland) flashed immediately,” said Johnson, now the head coach of the Bears. “He was all over the tape.”

Colston Loveland is far from the first to experience this.

There is a famous story from years ago. Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh went to Clemson to scout quarterback Steve Fuller. In doing so, he came across a little-known wide receiver, Dwight Clark. The two reviewed some film together, and Walsh felt some untapped potential was there. San Francisco drafted Clark in the 10th round. Clark reached two Pro Bowls and helped the 49ers win two Super Bowls. This is why it is always important to pay attention. Sometimes, the player you think will steal the show is outdone by a teammate who is the real engine of the ship. That was the case with Colston Loveland in Michigan. There is no way they win the national championship in 2023 without him. Now he has a chance to show why in Chicago.