2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland | © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Rob Willette Posted On January 25, 2025

Long thought to be the top tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft, Colston Loveland has fallen behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren in consensus rankings. The change in ranking, however, has more to do with how dominant Warren was as opposed to Loveland’s stock slipping.

Michigan’s top weapon in the passing game still has a great chance to hear his name called in the first round, making this a strong tight end class with two players who could become priorities in rookie drafts. His ability as a receiver gives him TE1 upside out of the gates.

Recruitment

Courtesy of 247Sports.

Despite playing high school football in the small town of Gooding, Idaho, Colston Loveland received national recruiting attention. After receiving offers exclusively from the western part of the country in his junior season, his profile blew up during his senior year, resulting in offers from Alabama, LSU and Auburn. Ultimately, he landed at Michigan under former head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The 14th-ranked tight end in the 247 Composite, Loveland has lapped his peers in terms of both collegiate production and NFL upside. A re-do of the 2022 recruiting class would see him land first at his position as a five-star recruit.

Collegiate Career

Courtesy of Sports Reference.

Much like the NFL, collegiate tight ends can take a bit to marinate, but Loveland stepped in and contributed for the Wolverines. He finished fifth on the team in receiving as a true freshman despite sharing the field with future Dallas Cowboys second-rounder Luke Schoonmaker.

He looked every bit the part of future star and aided Michigan to its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, back in the ancient times when it was only four teams. His sophomore season was arguably his best (at least by efficiency) as he finished only behind Roman Wilson – the Steelers 2024 third-round pick – in receiving.

The Michigan offense was a mess in 2024, limiting Loveland’s numbers. He did lead the team in receiving by a wide margin as the only reliable target within the passing game. All he really needed to do was stay healthy and maintain his elite production this fall, and he did so as he takes aim at April’s first round.

Strengths

Genuine mismatch weapon with alignment versatility
Explosive ability to challenge defense vertically
Elite collegiate production for a tight end
High-end ball skills

Weaknesses

Willing blocker yet far from dominant
May need time to mature before becoming a full-time player

Draft Value

Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database.

Loveland has long been mocked into the first round, locking in his projections at 20th overall with remarkable consistency during the latter months of the season. The Broncos make a lot of sense given their need for playmakers, and the Chargers are often a popular pairing due to his strong ties to Jim Harbaugh.

As the process goes on, I could see Loveland slipping in projections as players at more premier positions begin their ascent. There is no question, however, he is a possibility to hear his name called on Thursday evening as teams look to add more juice to their passing game. Given the question marks attached to many receivers in this draft, it is possible teams prioritize Loveland given his cleaner projection to the NFL.

Dynasty Outlook

Fantasy managers are always reticent to invest too heavily in rookie tight ends. In most formats, you only start one, and recent rookie darling Kyle Pitts has left too much pain in his wake for many to trust again.

DLF’s rookie rankers – easily the most handsome group of rankers around – are still bullish on Loveland, sneaking him into the first round at 12th overall. It is tough to see a pair of tight ends in the first round of most rookie drafts, but each class is unique, and both Warren and Loveland could prove to have pristine profiles, pushing them above your less heralded running backs and receiver.

The dynasty landscape at tight end is in an interesting spot. Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and Sam LaPorta have an excellent combination of youth and production on their side, separating themselves from the rest of the group. The middle tier features safe plays such as TJ Hockenson and David Njoku as well as legendary yet aging veterans in George Kittle, Travis Kelce, and Mark Andrews.

There is room for Loveland to step in as a dynasty TE1 from the jump, and his traits speak to a tight end who is a receiver first and foremost, a boon for fantasy goodness. Assuming nothing collapses his draft stock between now and April, Loveland has an excellent chance to settle in as a top 12 dynasty tight end with an argument to be made he should be in the top half of said rankings when the dust settles in May startups.