It's never too early to start looking ahead to NFL Draft season.
The Athletic recently released its latest mock draft ahead of the upcoming regular season.
They predicted that the Cincinnati Bengals would select Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 29 pick in the draft.
Loveland won't be able to put up the same impressive numbers in 2024 with a new quarterback as he did in 2022 and 2023 with JJ McCarthy, but he is an extremely reliable, agile and powerful pass receiver who has performed well all over the field. If Michigan goes with young Alex Orji at quarterback, Loveland will also get a chance to refine his run blocking – which is already very good.
Loveland is coming off a successful sophomore season with the Wolverines, catching 45 passes for 649 yards and four touchdowns, and was the team's leading receiver in the National Championship Game (catching three passes for 64 yards).
At 6'5″ and 240 lbs, he's an incredible athlete for his size. His draft value should only increase in the coming year.
Pro Football Focus ranks him as the best tight end in the country entering this season.
Loveland would secure the Bengals a long-term contract at that position. Their two best tight ends are currently Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample.
Gesicki recorded over 700 receiving yards in two consecutive seasons for the Miami Dolphins in 2020 and 2021. Since then, however, his performance has dropped off significantly. Last season, he recorded just 244 receiving yards for the New England Patriots. He is now looking to rebound with a one-year contract with the Bengals.
Sample has played five seasons for the Bengals, peaking in 2020 when he caught 40 passes for 349 yards and a touchdown.
Last season he had 22 pass catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns. His contract runs until 2027.
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