Colston Loveland signs contract with Chicago Bears, receives $16.01 million signing bonus

Colston Loveland officially signed his rookie contract with the Chicago Bears. As part of the deal, he will also receive a $16.01 million signing bonus.

Loveland is one of five rookies officially sign with the Bears Thursday. Chicago selected the former Michigan tight end with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, providing another weapon for quarterback Caleb Williams and a second tight end to complement Cole Kmet.

Loveland’s standard rookie contract is for four years and worth a fully guaranteed $26.6 million. He will also have a fifth-year option, and that figure will be determined ahead of his fourth NFL season.

Making things official

✍️ @colstonlovelan1 pic.twitter.com/sNn0RTaJXw

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 8, 2025

Loveland set a career-high with 56 receptions in 2024 while leading Michigan with 582 yards and five touchdowns across 10 games. He was a pivotal part of the 2023 national championship team under Jim Harbaugh when he set a career-high with 649 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore.

Now, Loveland will take his talents to Chicago as part of the Bears’ new-look offense. New head coach Ben Johnson was known for his two-tight end sets with the Detroit Lions as part of a 12-personnel scheme, and he’s sure to fit in alongside the veteran Kmet.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Colston Loveland

After the Bears selected Colston Loveland, he said Ben Johnson pointed out the similarities between the former Michigan star and Sam LaPorta, who flourished under his watch in Detroit. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein backed up those comparisons, pointing out Loveland’s route-running ability and ball skills as a pass-catcher in his pre-draft scouting report.

“Talented young tight end with the athletic ability and ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher,” Zierlein wrote. “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.”