The Chicago Bears spent the first NFL draft pick of Ben Johnson's tenure as head coach on tight end Colston Loveland out of Michigan.

The Bears selected the Michigan product with the No. 10 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, which put him in line to earn a notable rookie deal. In the days after the draft, Spotrac projected Loveland's rookie contract to be four years and $26.6 million with a $16 million signing bonus.

The Chicago Bears were highly optimistic entering last season, but there were still roster deficiencies and concerns regarding the coaching staff. This year, expectations seem genuinely high, or as high as they can be for a historically embattled franchise that happens to reside in the perilous NFC North.