Loveland mocked to Broncos by Kiper
Feb 25, 2025, 8:22 AM | Updated: 8:23 am
Colston Loveland seems to be settling in as the consensus mock draft pick for the Denver Broncos.
A week after NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah mocked the Michigan tight end to Denver, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. did the same in the pre-Combine mock that he released Tuesday morning.
Writes Kiper:
Denver coach Sean Payton is looking for a “joker” in his offense — someone who can play a few different roles as a playmaker. He had that in New Orleans with Alvin Kamara and Reggie Bush, but he hasn’t been able to find the right guy with the Broncos. If you look at what Loveland has done at Michigan and his skill set, he could help fill that role. He has the ability to separate, and his 6-foot-5 frame makes it difficult for opponents to match up. Loveland would be quarterback Bo Nix’s best friend in the pass game.
An added bonus: Denver picks two spots ahead of the division-rival Chargers, where Jim Harbaugh — Loveland’s former coach at Michigan — might be interested in selecting him. Payton could block Harbaugh and simultaneously boost his own offense in a big way.
Loveland is the second tight end taken in Kiper’s mock draft; he has the New Orleans Saints selecting Penn State’s Tyler Warren with the No. 9 selection.
Also of note:
- Kiper has two running backs going off the board long before the Broncos’ No. 20 selection. He mocks Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty to the Las Vegas Raiders at the No. 6 spot and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton to Dallas at No. 12.
- CU Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders is mocked to the New York Jets at No. 7 overall.
- Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is mocked to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall.
The full mock draft can be found here.
