NFL Draft - Day 1 (Round 1)

Nelly

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Egbuka at 19 is highway robbery.
Surprising pick for a team that already has Evans and Godwin, although they're probably thinking beyond this coming year with Evans getting up there in age.
 

Wild_x_Card

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Surprising pick for a team that already has Evans and Godwin, although they're probably thinking beyond this coming year with Evans getting up there in age.
He'll see a lot of one in the Slot early on and have a ton of success.
 

bamainatlanta

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If Fannin is a terrible blocker then the defense can just easily go nickel and not be too scared of the run killing them.

Check this out, just for example: Colston Loveland NFL Draft 2025 profile: Full scouting report, pro comparison, future outlook and more

From Strengths: Consistently blocked with low-pad level and a strong anchor, usually with proper hand placement and locked arms. Especially showed good effort including as a pulling blocker across the formation.

Bottom line: An NFL team looking for a mismatch tight end will target Loveland. He'll enter the league with the promising combination of height and speed with his upside tied to improved route running and after-catch ability. With the right coach and scheme, and with good health, Loveland could really become one of the most productive receiving tight ends in the league.

This is obviously what the Bears saw in order to make him the 10th overall pick. His knocks are that he's not a speed demon, gets tackled a little too easily and has a slight enough frame to not be a dominating blocker. But it's easy to see why Johnson wanted him.

They really shouldn't plan on using him as a blocker a whole lot. Just keep him in the slot.
 

bamainatlanta

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Laporta ran a 4.59, Loveland 4.7. And Laporta was the 34th pick, Loveland 10th…

Though Loveland looks way more fluid a route runner and is 2 Inches taller.

Is this true? This cant be real
 

Nelly

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They really shouldn't plan on using him as a blocker a whole lot. Just keep him in the slot.
Yea. The scouting report says that his receiving ability is what will get him drafted high, and it did. But the question is whether he is/can be a quality blocker. The reports say he can be.

I would guess that yes, he'll play a lot as a receiver while Kmet plays in-line. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we cut Kmet after this next year after Loveland has a year under his belt and adds more bulk and improves his ability to play there.
 

bamainatlanta

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Loveland didn't run the 40. So, it's not true. It's probably some random guess by an internet scout or expert.
Thank you.
 

remydat

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Yeah. I know. . He’s not really a TE you’re trusting to block though. He’s an oversized WR.

Plus I don’t think when the term undersized TE is used, it’s meant to imply their hands are small. Even their height isn’t that relevant. It’s more about how they play. Can they block? Are they more of just a big receiver who you can’t really rely on to block or are they a Gronk type? He’s undersized in that sense. He doesn’t play like a traditional tight end. He plays like a hybrid WR/TE.
But he clearly has the size to block and play inline so he isnt really undersized. All he really needs is to get stronger but his scouting report says he is a willing blocker.
 

zabavka

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I'd settle for Simmons at OT but I have a feeling the Chiefs take him and he becomes a pro bowler.
 

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Laporta ran a 4.59, Loveland 4.7. And Laporta was the 34th pick, Loveland 10th…

Though Loveland looks way more fluid a route runner and is 2 Inches taller.
Loveland didn't run the 40 at the combine. He had on a shoulder sling. He was considered #1 TE and ranked as a year 1 starter 6.70 rating on nfl.com.

It's Warren that ran the 4.7.
 

Canth

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Last thing I will say on Loveland is that I don't like hearing he had shoulder surgery in January and 'should' be ready for training camp.

So, what does that mean? Like, can he do OTA's and run routes and catch passes, just can't take contact right now?

 

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