There is one prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft who stands head and shoulders above the rest as an ideal fit for the LA Chargers. Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, who Jim Harbaugh once called the Wolverines' version of Travis Kelce, couldn't be a better fit.
All the stars are aligned. Colston is one of the best prospects at a huge area of need for the Chargers. With his immensely strong ties to Harbaugh because of their shared time at Michigan, it does not take a rocket scientist to see how the Chargers may already be circling Loveland as their top target.
The Chargers own the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and with tight ends having less positional value there is hope Loveland will still be available when the Chargers are on the clock. That may not be the case, however, as Loveland's stock continues to rise to a point that may harm the Chargers.
Daniel Jeremiah, who is one of the most respected and well-plugged-in draft analysts in the media world, recently put out his first big board of the top 50 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Loveland's rank? Seventh.
The Colston Loveland dream may already be dead for the Chargers
Big boards do not always translate to exactly how the NFL Draft plays out. For example, there are no quarterbacks at the top of Jeremiah's big board but there will naturally be quarterbacks taken in the top 10 solely because of positional value.
Jeremiah is also one analyst and his word is not law. Not only may NFL teams view Loveland differently, but there is plenty of time for the draft boards to change before late April.
All that being said, this is a reality check for Chargers fans to not outright expect Loveland to be the pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. As great as it would be for the Chargers, the idea of him being a surefire candidate for the 22nd pick is far-fetched.
Plus, the 2025 NFL Draft class is already shaking out to be one of the thinnest in recent memory. Positional value goes out the window if there are fewer prospects who are deserving of a first-round grade.
It's much easier to stomach taking a tight end in the top 15 picks knowing he is one of few prospects who actually has a first-round grade. Plus, Brock Bowers' historic year for the Las Vegas Raiders may also break some of that stigma. With tight ends being so important in the passing game, the position's value in the draft has gone up in recent years.
In a perfect world, Loveland would somehow fall to the Chargers to allow this dream pairing to happen. But in the real world, the Chargers should be preparing to fix the tight end room in another manner this offseason.