One of the few holdovers that starred on Michigan’s national championship team, Colston Loveland is one of the favorites to be the first tight end off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. Below we check out his 2024 season stats, mock draft projection, and much more.
Where Did Loveland Land in Our Most Recent NFL Mock Draft?
In the latest mock draft from Pro Football Network NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings, Loveland was the first tight end off the board, going 17th overall to the New Orleans Saints. Here’s what Cummings had to say about Loveland’s fit with the Saints:
“If the Saints stay competitive this year, Dennis Allen and Derek Carr might buy themselves more time. In that scenario, “Best Player Available” is the way to go in the 2025 NFL Draft. And in this 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Colston Loveland presents a unique opportunity there.
“The Saints have a budding weapons core with Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave, but Juwan Johnson’s impending free agency leaves a void.”
Loveland’s Best Landing Spots in the NFL
Loveland currently profiles as a player who should go off the board in the latter half of the first round. These teams could particularly use his skill set in their offense.
Washington Commanders
If Ertz is Loveland’s pro comparison, why not draft him to replace the aging veteran? Ertz is on a one-year deal and could conceivably retire after the season, requiring a long-term replacement at tight end for the Commanders.
Much of Jayden Daniels’ passing success as a rookie has been built off a well-constructed screen game and play-action deep shots. However, Loveland would help fill in some of the holes in the dropback passing game, serving as an underneath and intermediate target for Daniels to help fill out a more complete pass plot.
New York Jets
Who knows what the New York Jets will look like next fall, as they are primed to enter the offseason as one of the NFL’s most unpredictable teams. If Aaron Rodgers is still around in 2025, he could need a new tight end with Tyler Conklin entering free agency.
Loveland would be a worthy replacement and could see a heavy workload right away, given Rodgers’ surprising reliance on Conklin. And with the limited time remaining in any window of contention with Rodgers, it would make sense that the Jets would seek to boost his pass-catching corps in a potential “last dance” season.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have taken plenty of turns on the one-year veteran tight end carousel, but it might finally be time to step off that ride. Loveland would represent a more permanent solution and stop the revolving door that has seen the likes of Hayden Hurst, Irv Smith Jr., and Mike Gesicki step through in recent years.
Coupled with promising rookie Erick All Jr., the Bengals could roll out an extremely versatile 12 personnel grouping to take some of the playmaking burden off Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. And with Tee Higgins likely a goner in free agency, it could behoove the Bengals to remake their offensive identity and not rely so heavily on the passing offense to cover up the rest of the team’s warts.
Loveland’s Scouting Report
Here’s a look at a portion of Loveland’s scouting report from Cummings:
“At around 6’5″, 246 pounds, Loveland is a lab-built natural separator at tight end. He has exceptional lean mass and length, traits that help him outmatch opponents physically. But what makes Loveland special is his otherworldly blend of explosiveness, short-area agility, fluidity, and bend.
“Already, Loveland has shown he can employ his mobility profile with ruthless efficiency and spatial IQ as a route runner. And at just 20 years old, he has an extremely impressive route tree and full usage pallet. His tools also translate well in the RAC phase.
Meanwhile, Loveland shows promise in the other more traditional facets of the TE position. As a former basketball standout, he possesses a keen understanding of timing and positioning. Additionally, he can snare high-difficulty passes with that timing sense.”
Colston Loveland’s 2024 Season Stats and Game Breakdowns
Loveland missed Michigan’s win over USC with an undisclosed injury but returned for the next game and has been otherwise healthy during his junior season.
Receptions: 36
Receiving Yards: 344
Receiving TD: 2
Receiving Yards Per Game: 52.2
Yards Per Reception: 9.6
When Is Loveland Playing Next?
Loveland and the Michigan Wolverines will face off against the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m.
For the first time since 1928, the Spartans and Wolverines enter their rivalry game with at least three losses each. But that doesn’t diminish the intensity of this storied matchup, as both teams will battle for pride and control of the Paul Bunyan Trophy.