Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, the No. 13 player on Dane Brugler’s big board, has declared for the NFL Draft, joining teammates Mason Graham and Will Johnson.
Loveland announced his decision Friday on social media. Though Michigan struggled in the passing game during a 7-5 regular season, Loveland was one of Michigan’s bright spots. He finished his junior season with 56 receptions, a school record for a tight end, 582 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Loveland, an unheralded prospect from Gooding, Idaho, earned playing time as a freshman and was one of the key players in Michigan’s national championship season as a sophomore. The 6-foot-5 Loveland’s fluidity as a route runner made him one of the top tight end prospects in college football and a potential top-15 pick.
“If he’s not ready to go play in the NFL, I don’t know who would be,” tight ends coach Steve Casula said earlier this season. “He’s outstanding. When you compare his movement skills, his athleticism, ball skills, all that stuff, (you can) compare him against NFL players right now.”
Loveland became the third Michigan junior to declare for the draft, joining Johnson and Graham, two other potential first-round picks. Loveland didn’t address the ReliaQuest Bowl in his announcement but the mid-December draft declarations indicate the Wolverines will be without some of their top players when they face Alabama on Dec. 31. Loveland and Johnson were recovering from injuries, and neither played in Michigan’s season-ending upset of Ohio State.
Analyzing Loveland’s draft stock
In terms of pure receiver ability, Loveland is the best tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft class. His route nuance, ball skills, hand reliability and toughness at the catch point was simply more consistent over a longer period of time than Penn State stud Tyler Warren or anyone else. In just about every area, Loveland has first-round traits as a big, bendy target with speed and an ability to adjust in the air.
As a blocker, Loveland was often the spread tight end during Michigan’s national title run with former tight end A.J. Barner occupying much of the inline responsibility. Loveland is a solid inline blocker, he’s not an elite one. In fact, some NFL teams may wind up preferring Warren – a more powerful and, frankly, bigger athlete – over Loveland simply based on this. He also missed the Ohio State game, his last in the series, with a shoulder injury.
At the same time, he’s easily a top-20 talent in this draft. Whether or not he winds up in the top 20 — or completely locked into the first round in a weird year — remains to be seen.
#Michigan TE Colston Loveland lined up all over the place as usual Saturday night.
Made plays all over the place, per usual. pic.twitter.com/tHaDtOyBh6
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) September 1, 2024
(Photo of Colston Loveland: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
