In much of the leadup to the 2025 NFL Draft, there were two teams in the first round who were consistently connected to the class’s two clear-cut first-round prospects: the Bears and the Colts. The majority of pre-draft predictions saw each team landing one of either Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland, and while that did happen, there was a high likelihood that it could have turned out differently. 
Interestingly, Warren spent most of the pre-draft process clearly ranked as TE1. A massive redshirt senior year saw Warren nab 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games. This was enough to overcome Loveland, who entered the 2024 season as the favorite to be the top tight end off the board following a promising, championship-winning 2023 campaign but only managed a pedestrian 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games last year.
This made it a bit of a surprise when the Bears, who had long been projected to select Warren and leave Loveland for the Colts, selected Loveland over Warren. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Loveland took back his TE1 status with some “week-of-draft buzz.” The Bears weren’t alone in their pursuit of Loveland, either. Per Fowler, multiple teams would have attempted to trade up for Loveland had he made it into the teens.
It turns out, if Chicago had taken Warren instead of Loveland, the Colts might not have gotten their tight end. Loveland’s traits and upside reportedly made him the top tight end in the eyes of many teams, and knowing the likelihood that Indianapolis was going to draft a tight end, teams who really wanted Loveland likely would have looked to trade up in front of the 14th overall pick in order to jump in front of the Colts.
Instead, the Bears walked away with their TE1. The lack of a trade up when Warren was left on the board seems to indicate that those who were interested in a first-round tight end agreed that Warren wasn’t worth the move up that they considered Loveland to be worthy of.
Take a vacation. Nothing to report here.
If you’re not interested in football what are you doing here
You can be interested in football and still recognize articles that are 100% fluff. Most of these “after the fact” articles fall into that category. Jeremy Fowler has no more idea of what the NFL GMs were thinking when on the clock than you or I do.
Sounds like most front offices had Loveland as TE1 while the mock drafters and gurus had Warren as TE1
What’s interesting to me is if the Bears had taken Warren who is healthy would Kmet have been traded by now? Since Loveland is hurt and not expected to be ready until Training Camp at best do they have to keep him around until Loveland proves he’s healthy? As good as the Bears off season was there are a couple of minor holes to fill and they’re out of money. Not only could the Bears get some extra draft capital next year but lose Kmet’s 12 million dollar salary. Two pieces they could probably add and fill those holes are Z’Darius Smith and either Chubb or Dobbins. They might not be expensive but wouldn’t be free either. Or do they roll the dice that either Booker or Hardy can be the Edge they need for this year and that Monangai and Wheeler get the job done? Next year they have less holes to fill now but the 2 places to get Cap space would be Kmet and Ryan Bates 4 million. Trade Kmet and dump Bates and save 16 million. With 16 million the Bears can get another TE, RB and Edge. I’m interested to see how it goes.
Even if Loveland proves capable why dump Kmet? He’s caught over 80% of the balls thrown his way the last 2 seasons. I suspect he could get even better now that the Bears have an OC with knowledge of the TE position. I also expect that Chubb and Dobbins will be spending considerable time on IR if they get signed as free agents. The Bears have clearly gone all in on developing Williams so finding a RB is a lesser priority.
I’m just trying to figure out where the Bears are going to find some Cap Space. I’m sure they can restructure a couple of deals and maybe even save a few million. What’s the alternative? Trade Moore? I thought he was a good signing but then he kind of showed his colors when the chips were down last year and I really didn’t think much of it. Burden is supposed to be Moore’s clone. So trade Moore and re sign Keenan Allen for less? Not a horrible idea. Bates is the only dump candidate. I’m not really thrilled about the FA RB’s left but you still need space to pick up a guy who’s cut in camp or final cuts. They need to find some someplace or they’re paralyzed.
Teams that pile up a lot of unused cap space generally have poor seasons. The Ravens have been near the low end in cap space the past few years but they keep having double digit win seasons. A good GM can always find a way to create more wiggle room if necessary.
And do what exactly Lemon? Become the New Orleans Saints and be paying guys who have been off the team for 3 years and have 2 more to go? That’s how you get yourself in big trouble. I’m glad Poles isn’t doing that. Everybody seems to forget Pace left him with like 90 million in dead Cap he had to get rid of before he even started. Not to mention they left him with a 3 coach pool he had to hire for his head coach. The Bears finally figured out to hire the GM and let him pick the coach. And let the coach pick his coaches. I never thought I’d see that in my lifetime. Cross another one off the bucket list.
According to Spotrac the Bears have $7,335,954 in cap reserve so I don’t think the sky is about to fall on them. The Bills should be the team worrying as they are minus $211,460,046.
And 3 second round draft picks to sign at about 2 million each. Everybody forgets that part of it. They had 10 million last week and signed Loveland and all the others remember bro?