When the Bears selected Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the pick raised more than a few eyebrows. Not only because he went ahead of fellow tight end Ty Warren-who’s been a revelation in Indianapolis-but because first-round tight ends, historically, are a mixed bag.
It’s a position that often takes time to develop, and you can usually find solid contributors on Day 2 or 3. Just ask the Packers about Tucker Kraft.
But now, with the regular season winding down, it’s time to revisit that pick-and the early narrative that Chicago may have reached. Because while Warren has been every bit the star the Colts hoped for, Loveland is quietly making a case of his own in the Windy City.
Let’s start with Warren. The Colts' rookie tight end has been a huge part of their offensive resurgence.
He’s second on the team in targets (90), just behind Michael Pittman (99), and he's averaging nearly a yard more per catch than Pittman. That’s not just good-it’s rare air for a rookie tight end.
Add in strong pass protection, and it’s easy to see why he’s been such a reliable presence for Daniel Jones. With the Colts leaning heavily into a vertical passing game, Warren’s ability to stretch the field and keep Jones upright has been pivotal.
Now, Warren’s run blocking is still a bit of a work in progress, at least according to the scouting services. But on tape-and to the average eye-he’s holding his own. Bottom line: Warren looks like a legitimate first-round hit.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Loveland, after a slow start to the year, has seen his role grow steadily in Chicago.
Since early November, he’s averaging over five targets per game, and he’s become a key piece of the Bears' offense. While he’s still trailing Warren in raw production-498 yards and four touchdowns to Warren’s 718 and four-the efficiency metrics tell a different story.
Loveland is catching 72.2% of his targets and averaging 12.8 yards per reception. That’s a higher catch rate and more yards per catch than Warren, who sits at 70% and 11.4, respectively.
Among tight ends, only Dalton Kincaid (14.5 YPC) and the late Tucker Kraft (15.3) have outpaced Loveland in both categories. Oronde Gadsden is close, with 14 yards per catch and a 71.7% catch rate.
Now, it’s important to put that in context-Warren has handled more volume, and efficiency tends to dip with more usage. But Loveland’s ability to produce chunk plays and make the most of his opportunities is hard to ignore. And with Philip Rivers now under center in Indy, Warren’s production may level off, while Loveland's role in Chicago continues to expand.
Blocking-wise, the comparison is more nuanced. Warren is clearly the better pass protector-something that’s been backed up by film and by the analytics.
But Loveland holds the edge as a run blocker, with a 69.5 grade compared to Warren’s 56.1. And in the Bears’ offense, which leans heavily on the ground game and deep shots off play-action, that run-blocking ability is no small thing.
So, who’s the better player? If you had to pick one today, Warren probably gets the nod.
He’s been more consistent, more involved, and more well-rounded. But that doesn’t mean Loveland was a mistake.
Far from it. Evaluating players-especially rookies-isn’t a binary exercise.
Just because one guy went a few picks later doesn’t mean the other isn’t valuable. And just because a player was taken higher than expected doesn’t mean he can’t return that value in different ways.
Loveland brings something unique to the table. If your offense is built around power runs and deep shots, he might even be the better fit. If you need a high-volume target who can also protect your quarterback, Warren’s your guy.
And with the Bears down a couple of key receivers today-Luther Burden and Rome Odunze both sidelined-Loveland’s target share is likely to climb again. We’ll see what he does with the spotlight. But one thing is clear: the conversation around these two rookie tight ends isn’t as one-sided as it once seemed.