Social media reaction to Bears first-round draft pick Colston Loveland
After weeks of rumors and speculation, the Chicago Bears did use their first-round draft pick on a tight end … only it wasn’t the tight end everyone expected.
Many saw Penn State’s Tyler Warren as the top tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft, and given his versatility on the field, he seemed like a strong fit for new Bears coach Ben Johnson’s offense. So, when the Bears were on the clock at No. 10 on Thursday night and Warren still was available, it seemed like a layup.
Instead, Ryan Poles and Co. threw a bit of a curveball, selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.
Surprise certainly permeated reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter, but many stout defenders of the pick also spoke up.
NFL Network’s Adam Rank loved the selection and believed all along that Loveland was a better Bears fit than Warren:
Jake Butt — a former Michigan tight end who’s now a Big Ten Network analyst — also was a big fan of the pick, and praised Loveland’s ability to serve as a valuable outlet for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
ESPN analyst and Chicagoland native Matt Bowen believes we’ll now see more 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) from the Bears, with Loveland lining up on the field at the same time as incumbent tight end Cole Kmet.
ESPN NFL analyst Peter Schrager called Loveland his favorite pick of the draft to that point.
With the Bears drafting a tight end, there was a natural link to Sam LaPorta, who starred for Johnson in Detroit the last two seasons.
Other analysts who weighed in on social media also loved the pick …
Even legendary college coach Nick Saban provided his take on Loveland.
Of course, not all Bears fans were on board with the move.
ESPN captured the moment that Loveland, his friends and his family found out he was headed to Chicago …
… and a cool reaction from his hometown in Idaho:
Thursday began with a flurry of rumors connecting running back Ashton Jeanty and the Bears, with reports that Poles would try to trade up and possibly select the Heisman Trophy runner-up.
The Las Vegas Raiders spoiled that dream, though, when they picked Jeanty at No. 6, prompting an understandable reaction from Bears fans.
The Bears hold two second-round picks — at No. 39 and 41 overall — and we’ll see if more surprises are in store.