The Chargers need to give Justin Herbert more firepower. The coaching staff will be extremely familiar with what Loveland brings to the table.
This will continue to be a popular pairing throughout the pre-draft process. But one that makes too much sense.
Los Angeles hasn’t had a reliable pass-catching tight end since Huner Henry, and Loveland is familiar with head coach Jim Harbaugh from their time together at Michigan.
A run-heavy offense and poor quarterback limited Loveland this past season. Still, he has proven himself a reliable receiver, possessing the route-running chops, ball skills and contested catch ability.
Kiper’s early prediction has the Broncos selecting Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty with the 20th overall pick in the first round. The best RB in the class, Jeanty would be an amazing pick for Denver after he rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last fall.
Of note, Kiper has Penn State tight end Tyler Warren — a popular prospect among Broncos fans — going to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 14 overall. Right after Denver’s pick, Kiper has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka at No. 21.
After that, the Los Angeles Chargers land Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at pick No. 22. Warren, Jeanty, Egbuka and Loveland will be popular mock draft picks for the Broncos in the coming months.
In his first mock draft last year, Kiper had Denver selecting UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu. The Broncos instead chose Oregon quarterback Bo Nix at No. 12 and Latu landed with the Colts at No. 15 in 2024.
The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin from April 24-26. Denver holds seven picks, including selections in the first four rounds.
For Los Angeles, it is Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.
Considering Jim Harbaugh’s affinity for tight ends, it was a major surprise to many that Seattle was quicker on the trigger in last year’s draft for former Michigan TE AJ Barner (30 catches for 245 yards and four TDs in 2024). Luckily for the Chargers’ head coach, he can set his sights on another Michigan man in this draft, one with the athletic profile that warrants a first-round selection.
Despite a 2024 campaign limited by spotty QB play and multiple injuries, Loveland still managed a 90.2 receiving grade. Over the past two seasons for the Maize and Blue, he amassed 103 catches for 649 yards, nine scores and 62 first downs.
L.A. hasn’t had a good pass-catching tight end since Hunter Henry a few years back. When Henry was with the Chargers, he and Justin Herbert had a strong chemistry, so adding a receiving TE is imperative.
Loveland could step in from Day 1 and fulfill that need.
A run-heavy offense and instability at quarterback limited Loveland this past season. Still, he has proven himself a reliable receiver, possessing the route-running chops, ball skills, contested catch ability, and body control.
Loveland was a key piece of the Wolverines’ offense in 2023, the year that Jim Harbaugh guided them to a national title. He posted 45 receptions for 649 yards and four touchdowns.
Of those underclassmen, five could be of particular early-round interest to the Broncos, who are set to select 20th and 51st overall in the first two rounds of April’s draft. Here’s a quick look at five early names to know.
1. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty: Yes, most pundits don’t expect him to fall to Denver, but it is a possible scenario. The Broncos could also consider trading up to land the top RB in the draft.
2. Michigan TE Colston Loveland: PSU’s Tyler Warren would be a dream pick for Denver, but if he’s not on the board, Loveland might be. He totaled 101 receptions for 1,231 yards and nine touchdowns in his final two years with the Wolverines.
3. Texas WR Matthew Golden: Denver needs to add more weapons for quarterback Bo Nix and Golden is coming off a 58-catch, 987-yard, nine-touchdown season as a junior.
4. Texas WR Isaiah Bond: Golden’s teammate, Bond, totaled 34 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns last fall.
5. Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson: If the Broncos don’t land Jeanty in the first, perhaps they’ll consider Johnson in the second. He rushed 240 times for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024.
Denver holds seven picks to use in the 2025 NFL draft (April 24-26).
Who could the Chargers add to the roster in the first round next year?
The Chargers own the No. 22 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.
Now that we know where Los Angeles will pick, let’s look at who draft experts are pairing with L.A. in the first round.
The Athletic: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: “Like Warren to Indianapolis, this is another potential pairing that should be popular in mock drafts. A big, fast and reliable pass catcher, Loveland would help fix several of the Chargers’ offensive woes. And, obviously, no other head coach will be more familiar with how to use his skill set than Jim Harbaugh.”
CBS Sports: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso: “Tyler Warren emerged as the best tight end in college football this season, with incredible athletic gifts, a sizable frame and plus ball skills. Huge boost for the Chargers offense down the seam.”
Pro Football Network: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante: “Loveland is an athletic move tight end with the fluidity to excel on the seam and the deep speed needed to serve as a better vertical threat in the passing game than the average tight end prospect. His ceiling as a pass catcher would make him a valuable asset to Justin Herbert and a young Chargers offensive nucleus.”
The 33rd Team: DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs: “Los Angeles finished the season with the league’s No. 1 scoring defense, but things unraveled in Houston with a Wild Card loss to the Texans. Houston’s 168 rushing yards underscores one big area of improvement for the Chargers this offseason — the run defense ranked 27th in the NFL in yards per carry. Poona Ford was a great success for the Chargers this season, but he was on a 1-year deal and will be looking to cash in. But even if he’s back in LA for 2025, a stout presence like Tyleik Williams would further help the Chargers control the trenches.”
Athlon Sports: DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling: “It might hurt Jim Harbaugh to miss out on his former Wolverine in Grant, but the need remains for a tone-setting interior defender who can stuff the run. That could lead him to his old rival in Columbus, where Williams has been one of the best inside run defenders in all of college football this season, giving the Chargers a much-needed upgrade.”
Sporting News: EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer: “The Chargers have Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, but the latter is a 33-year-old pending free agent and they have some rotational depth concerns. Sawyer can help them reload as a rising, relentless pass-rusher and overall playmaker.”
CBS Sport: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner: “Tyler Warren feels like a Jim Harbaugh player. He’s tough as nails over the middle of the football field and a true inline tight end. His ability to make contested plays at the catch point is something the Chargers receiving corps desperately needs.”
The Los Angeles Chargers take two of Jim Harbaugh’s former players.
The Chargers’ 2024 season is over, so the focus shifts to the offseason. Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz will look to revamp their roster with the pieces to get deeper into the playoffs.
L.A. will hold the No. 22 overall selection in the first round.
With that in mind, here’s our first mock draft of the 2025 off-season.
Round 1, No. 22
Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan
The Chargers need to add a tight end who can make an impact in the passing game, something they haven’t had since Hunter Henry. Los Angeles fulfills that with Loveland, who reunites with Jim Harbaugh. With his skills as a pass-catcher, Loveland would quickly become one of Justin Herbert’s go-to targets. He possesses the athleticism and route-running chops to separate from coverage, the speed to threaten the seam vertically, and a great catch radius to go up and reel anything thrown in. He is also a willing blocker in the run game, which Greg Roman would appreciate.
Round 2, No. 55
Tate Ratledge | IOL | Georgia
I would not be surprised if the Chargers spend big money on the interior part of the offensive line in free agency. But since it’s still so early in the offseason, we will draw out a scenario where they don’t. Trey Pipkins struggled and dealt with injuries late in the season. When he was on the field, Pipkins struggled in pass protection. While giving Herbert the playmakers he needs is imperative, so is keeping him upright. Ratledge is a plug-and-play right guard who plays with the desired play strength, football IQ and physicality. He is also battle-tested against SEC-level competition.
Round 3, No. 86
Josaiah Stewart | EDGE | Michigan
The Chargers might address this position earlier in the draft if Joey Bosa is a cap casualty and Khalil Mack is not back with the team, whether that’s him retiring or signing with another team. Regardless, the edge defender room needs more juice to complement Tuli Tuipulotu. Stewart’s first season with the Wolverines was the year Harbaugh led them to a national championship. This past season, he led Michigan in sacks with 8.5. Stewart is an explosive pass rusher with a quick first step and an arsenal of counters that will translate to the next level from Day 1.
It was a good year but also a tough one for junior Michigan football tight end Colston Loveland.
Thought to be the best tight end in the country entering the 2024 season, with the Wolverines having an anemic passing game coming into the year, Loveland wasn’t just an option, he was the option. Mix that with Loveland having some injury issues both early and late in the year, that meant that he didn’t quite reach his full potential showing that he may have otherwise.
Loveland was absent in two of Michigan’s biggest games of the season, missing the entirety of both the USC game in Week 4 and the Ohio State game in Week 14. It turns out his final play — a touchdown just before halftime in the Week 13 game against Northwestern — was his final snap in a Michigan uniform, as Loveland declared for the NFL draft on Friday.
Loveland led Michigan with 56 pass receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns — more than double any other receiver in every category.
With Loveland gone, the Wolverines will likely turn to freshman Hogan Hansen, who showed some similar attributes as Loveland had in his first year with the program.
Loveland joins defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson in having departed for the NFL draft following their junior season. He will likely be a first-round NFL draft pick in 2025.
The Broncos land tight end Colston Loveland in this 2025 NFL mock draft.
Although the NFL season is in its stretch run, it’s never the wrong time to talk about the NFL draft.
In the Denver Broncos‘ case, their play slates them to have their first pick in the latter part of the first round. Following the rise of Bo Nix, they need to add complementary pieces to the offense.
In his recent 2025 NFL mock draft, Cory Kinnan of Daft on Drafthas the Broncos selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. Through ten games this season, he has caught 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the best tight end in college football.
Here is Kinnan’s commentary on the pick:
The Denver Broncos are the surprise of 2024. Bo Nix is playing better every week, and they keep winning games. Their set of pass catchers, however, can be improved. Sean Payton, the man who utilized the big and athletic Jimmy Graham in New Orleans, lands the big and athletic Colston Loveland.
While Loveland seems ideal, the real work and evaluation begins after the season ends in February.
#Michigan needs some really good news Saturday morning.
This time last week, the hope was that Michigan football would be coming into the Ohio State game close to full strength — minus safety Rod Moore, of course — with some optimism that star cornerback Will Johnson could return.
However, not only does it appear unlikely that Johnson will be available in Columbus, but another star is starting to look unlikely to play against the Buckeyes. Colston Loveland scored a big touchdown before halftime against Northwestern, but didn’t return to the game. It appeared as if he was being held out on precautionary measures, but it turns out his injury — though not overall serious — might be serious enough to keep him out vs. Ohio State.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” head coach Sherrone Moore said on Monday. “I think Colston’s trending in a good direction. We’ll get a better feel in the next couple days and we’ll see — same thing with Will.”
Considering how good OSU is this year (as it tends to be every year) and how much Michigan has had to scrape and claw for everything it’s gotten this year, the Wolverines need all hands on deck. Here is the latest.
Will Johnson injury update
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Johnson was initially injured in the second half of the USC game in Week 4, but he returned to the lineup after missing one game against Minnesota. However, he appeared to have suffered a case of turf toe in the first half of Week 8 at Illinois and has not returned to the lineup since.
With Johnson likely out, Michigan will rely on the personnel it’s been running out there most of the year. Jyaire Hill and Aamir Hall will likely start on the boundary while Zeke Berry — who has started a few games outside — could return to nickel. Or, like we saw last week, it could be Hall and Berry with Makari Paige at nickel while Hill rotates in.
Colston Loveland injury update
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Loveland was expected by many to be a go until ESPN’s Pete Thamel revealed that there is pessimism that he’ll be cleared by the time kickoff happens. Considering Loveland is Michigan’s leading receiving threat, it would be a huge blow to the Wolverines. However, Michigan did beat a then-ranked USC team in Week 4 without Loveland, as he’s long been dealing with a shoulder injury he sustained in Week 3 against Arkansas State.
Michigan tight end depth chart
Without Loveland, Michigan would rely heavily on Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen to fill his role as a pass catcher and bring in Zack Marshall as a blocker.
Thamel reported on Thursday evening that there is growing pessimism that Loveland will be able to go on Saturday after leaving the Northwesten game at halftime. If true, it’s a big blow to the Michigan offense and perhaps the last that the Wolverines will have seen of the phenom tight end often thought to be the best in the country.
Sources: There’s increasing pessimism about the availability of Michigan TE Colston Loveland for the game at No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday. He did not play in the second half of the Northwestern game with an undisclosed injury and has been limited all week in practice. pic.twitter.com/1z4xZKaKSo
If Loveland isn’t able to go, Michigan football will be without its top offensive weapon. Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen would likely go in his place, rotating with senior captain Max Bredeson.
Loveland actually got his first career touchdown in Columbus when Michigan upset Ohio State, 45-23, in 2022.
