NFL Draft Profile: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

The Browns need another tight end, but Loveland’s stock may be rising too far for Cleveland to make a move.

The Cleveland Browns do not have much going for them at the moment at tight end outside of veteran David Njoku.

Geoff Swaim and Jordan Akins are both unrestricted free agents waiting for something to happen. The current rostered trio of Brenden Bates, Tre’ McKitty, and Blake Whiteheart have combined for 22 receptions, 168 yards, and one touchdown at the NFL level.

So the cupboard, as they say, is pretty bare once you get past Njoku.

Cleveland could always look to bring Akins back for a third tour with the team, but if general manager Andrew Berry decides to find a way to address the position early in the 2025 NFL Draft, he could turn his attention to Michigan’s Colston Loveland.

Name: Colston Loveland

Position: Tight end

Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 248 pounds

College: Michigan

2024 stats: 10 games, 56 receptions, 582 receiving yards, 10.4 yards per catch, 5 touchdowns

Career stats: 39 games, 117 receptions, 1,466 receiving yards, 12.5 yards per catch, 11 touchdowns

Relative Athletic Score: Did not qualify due to a lack of measurements.

Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 20th overall/first-round selection

The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value: Day 1 – Pro Bowl caliber

What an Expert is Saying

Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:

Talented young tight end with the athletic ability and ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher. Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels. 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. He will keep filling out his frame but is unlikely to ever become more than average as a blocker. Colston’s collection of athletic traits and catch talent creates a high ceiling with the opportunity to become a high-volume target and future Pro Bowler.

What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):

The Draft Network:

In Michigan’s passing offense, Loveland was utilized as a movement piece and showcased that he can become a player utilized to dictate coverages but also design and run an entire offense through. Loveland runs good routes with little wasted movement at the breakpoint. Loveland stems his routes well with his entire body/frame to manipulate the defender into a compromising position. He changes directions well with good hip fluidity to generate ample separation for his QB. He does a good job selling vertical/seam routes to free up space in the middle of the field.

Loveland possesses great acceleration to create big plays after the catch. He flashes the ability to make a defender miss in addition to his physicality with the ball in his hands. Once geared up, Loveland has the stride length and speed to eat up grass quickly. With great height and wingspan, he is a post-player inside the red zone for his offense. Loveland knows how to position his body and use it to box out smaller defenders creating favorable targets for the QB. He uses the combination of height and wingspan to easily pluck the ball out of the air and away from his frame, displaying the ability to uncover from tight coverage.

Loveland is a willing and competitive run blocker. He showcases functional strength to wall off and seal a variety of defenders. When in-line, he is a plus-blocker to create a lane for the ball-carrier, even against base defensive ends. Loveland’s athleticism is an asset as a space blocker when aligned in the slot or out wide. He can climb to those second and third-level defenders quickly to engage. He flashes a nasty, finishing mentality to put defenders in the dirt. His effectiveness as a run blocker opens up delay and leak route concepts off hard play-action.

Fit with the Browns

Pairing Loveland with David Njoku would create matchup problems for opposing defenses, so it is safe to say that Loveland would be a fit for the Browns. Berry will not select a tight end at No. 2 overall, so if Loveland is as talented as some are making him out to be, it would require a trade back into the first round, depending on how things play out on draft night.

Browns Player Drafting Could Impact

Absolutely no one. The depth is pretty slim after Njoku, so Loveland would have only himself standing in the way of playing time.

Priority: Medium to Upper-Medium

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