The Bears are taking a chance as they drafted Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In doing so, pundits are already coming out to judge the pick, including former Alabama coach-turned-analyst Nick Saban.
Saban lost out on Loveland, as he eventually starred for the Wolverines and beat the Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl en route to the Wolverines winning a national title.
Saban dubbed Loveland a potential superstar, but it may take time.
"Another one of the recruits that we lost, but anyway, beat us in the playoffs,” Saban said, per On3. "But this guy is a fantastic athlete. He’s the best receiver of all the tight ends in the draft, in my opinion, because his athletic ability and his ability to separate at the top of the route and beat man-to-man coverage."
Saban also noted some of his key attributes, which may set him apart moving forward.
"He has natural hands, long arms, which gives him a big catch radius," Saban said. ”But this guy is a fantastic athlete. He’s the best receiver of all the tight ends in the draft, in my opinion, because his athletic ability and his ability to separate at the top of the route and beat man-to-man coverage. He has natural hands, long arms, which gives him a big catch radius.”
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NFL analyst Lance Zierlein backed Saban and sees Loveland as a valuable commodity for a Bears team attempting to build around quarterback Caleb Williams.
"Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels," Zierlein said. "He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option. His routes can be a little hurried and lacking in detail but that should change with coaching. He’s graceful in-air and catches the ball with good timing and strong hands."
Loveland caught five touchdowns this past season and will look to build off of a successful collegiate career.