The Colts have been heavily linked to the top tight ends in this year’s draft class, and they trade up to land one here!
According to ESPN Peter Schrager’s one and only mock draft of the season, the Indianapolis Colts will trade up to select Michigan’s Colston Loveland with the acquired 10th overall pick from the Chicago Bears:
10. Indianapolis Colts (via projected trade with CHI)
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
GM Chris Ballard & Co. get a 6-foot-6 tight end who has many teams enchanted ahead of Round 1. This pick would be about instant offense for a team that needs it.
For what it’s worth, Colts longtime general manager Chris Ballard has not traded up in the first round during any of his prior 8 draft classes. However, this isn’t regarded as much of a seller’s draft within the Top 10, so perhaps the acquiring prices are more team-friendly for his taste than usual—meaning he’d have to surrender less draft capital in such a move.
“The listed 6’5,” 245 pound junior tight end for the Wolverines caught 56 receptions for 582 total receiving yards and 5 touchdown receptions during 10 starts this past season—earning 2nd-Team All-American and All-Big Ten honors (behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren) respectively.
He was a CFP National Champion and First-Team All-Big Ten for the Wolverines back in 2023.”
Schrager was also one of the NFL Insiders who was in on the Colts making competitive attempts to try to trade up within the Top 10 last year to potentially select Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, or Brock Bowers, so his late projection here carries some weight.
There’s no question that the Colts could use a receiving playmaker at tight end too, as the team has gotten ‘next to nothing’ production-wise as of late. Loveland has hands, quickness, and the ability to separate down the seam, making him a dynamic option for head coach Shane Steichen to deploy, as well as a weapon for whoever their QB1 is.
