The Top-2 Rookie Draft Picks for the Chicago Bears, TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden, are missing practice while dealing with injuries.
With rookie practice barely starting, the Bears cannot bear any more bad news.
First round draft pick TE Colston Loveland and Second round pick WR Luther Burden are both currently sitting out rookie camp. Colston’s absence is unsurprising, as the team knew he was dealing with an AC joint injury, which requires time to recover. However, Burden is already dealing with a “soft tissue issue” indicating a higher chance of recurrence later on during the season. Both players are expected to be back when the entire team reports later this summer.
Both players are intriguing dynasty selections, getting drafted in RD2 most league formats. Loveland is the TE10 in Bestball ADP, while Burden is the WR50. Neither should be more than stacking targets at those prices in the bestball streets.
Author: Bradley Stalder (@FFStalder)
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder) is ...
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is unsure if rookie ...
Chicago Bears rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland...
Michigan TE Colston Loveland surprises the draft community as the first TE off the board and the third overall pass catching weapon selected in 2025
Colston Loveland is already one of the more polarizing players in the 2025 draft. As a rookie move tight end, he landed on what’s shaping up to be an ascending offense with an upgraded coaching staff, a year of NFL experience for Caleb Williams, and exceptional draft capital. Those looking for a Sam LaPorta like season under Ben Johnson might want to temper expectations though.
Thinking critically through this landing spot, there are already 2 premier pass catchers on the roster in D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, with an entrenched starting TE in Cole Kmet. The Bears struggled in the pass game last year and even though they are expected to improve, it most likely will be incremental and not exponential. All that to say, Loveland will not be the #2 target on the team and the offense will not have enough production to elevate him as a top TE asset. He’s a stay away in FastDraft in all formats and at best a stash for Dynasty leagues. The right move might just be a Trey McBride like buy low in a year or maybe two.
Author: Lukasz Stec (@Lukasz_FF01)
NFL Analyst Peter Schrager reported that from a weekend full of calls, Colston Loveland has a lot more love for him in NFL draft rooms than most mock draft analysts are accounting for.
Michigan early declare TE Colston Loveland has been entrenched in mock drafts as 2025’s Tight End 2. PlayerProfiler has him at 14 on our big board, and he is averaging around pick 17 across several other services. Draft night prognostication is difficult, we have just about seen it all, but IF this news is for real what does that mean for Loveland?
If draft order stays put until April 24th – Pick 17 is the Bengals, which is probably why a lot of people are shoehorning Loveland into a dream fit. We can almost certainly rule out picks 1-4, as only ‘generational prospect’ Kyle Pitts has ever been selected that high in the draft. The Jaguars do need a TE, but with all the other team needs, pick 5 for Loveland is a real stretch, and the Raiders do not need a TE. That leaves: The Jets, Panthers, Saints, Bears, 49ers and Cowboys as potential destinations. The Bears and 49ers have crowded receiver rooms but IF Loveland goes to the Jets, Panthers, Saints or Cowboys… its wheels up! He could legitimately become the second target in any of those offenses, making him a strong buy in Dynasty drafts and potentially leap frogging Tyler Warren.
Author: Lukasz Stec (@Lukasz_FF01)
Colston Loveland was a dominant part of the Michigan offense and is missing combine drills to recover from a right shoulder surgery he underwent last month.
Loveland is at the combine participating in interviews and could potentially be the first tight end off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft, despite his injury. Loveland measured in at the combine at 6’5″, 248lbs.
During Combine interviews, Loveland shared that he has met formally with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos, among other teams. The Broncos have been a popular landing spot in mock drafts for Loveland, as the Broncos have a glaring need at tight end and he fits the mold for the “joker” role Head Coach Sean Payton has been searching for ever since he arrived in Denver.
Despite not being a pass heavy offense, Loveland praised his time at Michigan and how the school developed him into a complete tight end. Loveland expects to be fully recovered from his surgery by the time OTAs arrive.
Author: Jonny Tooma (@FantasyPicasso)
