Colston Loveland NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report For Michigan TE

Colston Loveland enters the 2025 NFL Draft as an exciting tight end prospect. He boasts a rare blend of athleticism, versatility, and receiving ability. Additionally, his refined route running, ability to line up across formations, and knack for making tough catches in traffic make him a dynamic weapon in the passing game.

With impressive post-catch acceleration and strong spatial awareness, Loveland has the skill set to be a high-impact target at the next level. While his blocking effort is evident, refining his strength, leverage, and technique will be key to developing into a complete NFL tight end.

Colston Loveland 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Loveland enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the premier tight end prospects in his class, blending rare athleticism, refined receiving skills, and positional versatility. A three-year contributor at Michigan, Loveland evolved from a promising freshman into a cornerstone of the Wolverines’ offense, culminating in a national championship in 2023 and All-American honors in 2024. With 117 career receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns, he holds Michigan’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end (56 in 2024). Despite a shoulder injury that hampered his final collegiate season and limited his pre-draft workout participation, Loveland’s tape showcases a dynamic pass-catcher with the potential to thrive in the modern NFL.

HT: 6056
WT: 248
HAND: 1000
ARM: 3268
40: 4.67

Strengths

• Receiving Ability: Loveland is a natural hands-catcher with an exceptional catch radius, thanks to his length and basketball-honed body control. He excels at adjusting to off-target throws and high-pointing passes in traffic, making him a red-zone nightmare.
• Route-Running Savvy: Displays advanced route-running ability for a tight end, with smooth hips, crisp breaks, and an innate feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage. Against man coverage, his quickness off the line and subtle hand usage create separation.
• Athleticism: At his size, Loveland moves like a big wide receiver. His burst off the snap and ability to stretch the seam vertically stress defenses, while his agility allows him to navigate short-to-intermediate routes with precision.
• Versatility: Aligned everywhere from in-line to the slot to out wide at Michigan, offering flexibility for creative offensive coordinators. His multi-sport background (football and basketball) shines through in his spatial awareness and adaptability.
• Competitive Toughness: He plays with a high motor, willingly engaging as a blocker and fighting for extra yards after the catch. He showcased durability by playing through a shoulder injury in 2024, though it impacted his physicality.

Areas for Improvement

• Blocking Consistency: Loveland is a willing blocker but lacks the play strength and anchor to dominate in-line at the next level. He struggles to sustain blocks against bigger defenders and needs to improve his pad level and hand placement to avoid being overpowered.
• Yards After Catch (YAC): While tough and determined post-catch, Loveland isn’t a dynamic tackle-breaker or an elusive runner. His straight-line speed is solid but not elite, limiting his ability to turn short gains into explosive plays.
• Physical Development: At 248 pounds, he has room to add functional mass to his frame without sacrificing agility. Increasing his lower-body strength could elevate his blocking and overall physical presence.
• Injury Concern: He underwent shoulder surgery in January 2025, which sidelined him for the NFL Combine and Michigan’s Pro Day. While he is expected to be ready for training camp, teams will need to assess his long-term durability.

Conclusion

Loveland’s blend of size, athleticism, and pass-catching instincts makes him a tantalizing prospect for the evolving tight end role in the NFL. Teams seeking a versatile weapon to stretch defenses and attack the middle of the field will view him as a plug-and-play contributor. Loveland has the tools to emerge as a top-tier tight end by his second contract if he can add strength and refine his blocking technique. His shoulder recovery will be a key pre-draft storyline, but the tape tells the story of a playmaker ready to shine at the next level.

Loveland profiles as a “move” tight end with immediate upside as a receiving threat in the NFL. His ability to align across the formation and exploit mismatches makes him an ideal fit for offenses utilizing 11 or 12 personnel packages. While he won’t be a traditional in-line Y-tight end early in his career, his receiving polish and athletic traits suggest a high floor as a complementary pass-catcher with Pro Bowl potential if paired with a creative play-caller. His blocking limitations and injury history may temper expectations, but his trajectory points to a starter by Year 2 or 3. Like Dallas Goedert, Loveland combines size, fluidity, and reliable hands to win as a receiver, though he’ll need time to match Goedert’s blocking prowess.

Round Grade: Mid 1st – Early 2nd Round

Stats: Per Sports Reference

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