After a breakout rookie campaign, Chicago’s rising star should mirror one player's versatility to better suit the offense's philosophy.
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland was a home run draft pick by the organization last year.
He established himself as the Bears' TE1 and continued to be a safety valve and playmaker for Caleb Williams. His rookie season ended with 713 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
It's only his second year in the league, but Loveland has a chance to put himself in the same company as the best players at his position in 2026. Yet, there are still areas where he can improve.
We saw that he is a capable receiving option, but he may want to add more run-blocking skills to his game, especially given the Bears' offense's emphasis on running the football.
The Bears have also shown that they are leaning towards lining up in more 12- and 13-man personnel in the future. Cole Kmet is seen as the blocking tight end in the Bears' TE rotation, but if Loveland can become a better blocker, it could really help the offense run more efficiently.
Loveland appeared on a recent episode of "Bussin With The Boys" and was asked to name his top three tight ends. He went with George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Trey McBride in no particular order.
"I think George [Kittle], if he's watching," Loveland said. "He's still doing it at a very high level all around. So, and then there's guys that do certain things better. Trey [McBride] put up 1,300 yards this year or something like that. That's pretty crazy. 90 catches or something."
What stood out to Kittle for Loveland was his ability to be an all-around tight end. Kittle excels as a receiver and blocker in the running game, which is definitely something that Loveland should strive to be.
"I think his run game just speaks to me a lot," Loveland said. "Like, how his get off, his pad level, hand placement. I don't think there's a lot of guys doing it like that."
The Bears' offense ran like a well-oiled machine last year, especially in running the football. Chicago had the third-best rushing offense in the league last season (144.5).
If Loveland can just add another wrinkle to his game as a run blocker, it could go a long way.
This could also benefit the Bears in the near future.
Kmet's contract is set to expire in 2028, per Spotrac. The team already has a player similar to Kmet on the roster in Sam Roush, whom they drafted out of Stanford in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
If the Bears decide to move on from Kmet when his contract is up and put Roush in his place, the transition would be easier if Loveland improves as a run blocker, which would help the rookie get more comfortable.
We know that Loveland has great receiving skills, but if he can help more in the running game, it will go a long way for this Bears' offense.
