The Chicago Bears had an impactful rookie draft class last season, led by first-round tight end Colston Loveland, who quickly became a top target in the passing game and flashed his potential as a top playmaker in the NFL.
Loveland, selected 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, led the Bears in receptions (58) and receiving yards (713) and tied with touchdowns (6), and he didn’t really get going for a few weeks into the season. In the final 12 games of the season (including two postseason contests), Loveland caught 59 passes for 790 yards and six touchdowns. He also set an NFL rookie record with the most receiving yards in a single postseason with 193 yards in two playoff games.
So it’s not a surprise that Loveland made ESPN’s ranking as a top tight end in the league, according to NFL coaches and executives. Loveland landed at No. 7 on this list, and it’s clear that he can make up significant ground in 2026.
Here’s what NFL coaches and executives had to say about Loveland:
“He’s unbelievable,” an NFL coordinator said. “A smooth mover with toughness.”
“[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.”
Here are the six tight ends who ranked before Loveland, from 1-6: Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers, Arizona’s Trey McBride, San Francisco’s George Kittle, Detroit’s Sam LaPorta, Indianapolis’ Tyler Warren and Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft.
But Loveland isn’t the only Bears tight end to land on the list. While he didn’t land in the Top 10, Cole Kmet earned an honorable mention.
“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. “They need to find ways to get Kmet and Loveland on the field together.”
Chicago has one of the best tight end rooms in the NFL with Loveland, Kmet and third-round rookie Sam Roush, so it’s no surprise that they had two tight ends crack this list in some regard. All three will be key to the offense’s continued success in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears rising star Colston Loveland ranked among NFL’s best tight ends
