In a very early 2025 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Focus, the Indianapolis Colts get some much-needed help at tight end.
With the 15th overall pick in the first round, PFF’s Gordon McGuiness has the Colts selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.
“Loveland has elevated his game to new heights in 2024, earning an 88.9 PFF receiving grade,” wrote McGuinness. “He’s averaging an impressive 2.84 yards per route run this season and has dropped just 3.6% of the catchable targets thrown his way.”
Listed at 6-5 – 246 pounds, Loveland has terrific athleticism and would bring a missing pass-catching element to the Colts’ offense at the tight end position.
During Michigan’s 2023 National Championship run, Loveland caught 45-of-62 passes at 14.4 yards per catch with four scores. Over half of his snaps came lined up in the slot, along with another 19 percent from the boundary.
His 649 yards that season were the fifth-most at the tight end position, along with Loveland ranking fourth in average YAC and third in yards per route run–a pass-catching efficiency metric from PFF.
This season, Loveland has taken on a larger role in the Michigan passing game, already with 56 receptions, while totaling 582 yards with five touchdowns.
Among all tight ends, Loveland ranks fifth in receptions, eighth in yards, and ninth in touchdowns, again seeing the bulk of his snaps come from the slot.
Loveland is the 20th overall prospect on PFF’s big board and the top rated tight end in the class.
In addition to selecting Loveland, McGuinness also had the Colts getting secondary help in Rounds 2 and 3, taking USC safety Kamari Ramsey at pick 47 and Kansas cornerback Mello Dotson at pick 79 overall.