Liking Bears' Colston Loveland pick? Here's what voters say

Hang on — Colston Loveland?

Not a big ugly to road-grade on the offensive line or slobber-knock on the defensive line?

And as tight ends go, not Penn State’s Tyler Warren?

The Bears’ first-round pick of Michigan tight end Loveland was a major surprise. Was it also a major gaffe? Or will it be a success, maybe even a game-changing one?

In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, Loveland was topic No. 1.

“They should have traded back to get him,” @ThomasMPrice commented.“They already have [Cole] Kmet, and past coaching didn’t utilize him properly,” @dizzyd22277 wrote. “Why the need to waste this pick on a tight end?”

Next, we asked what the Bears should focus on over the rest of the draft. The offensive line was @Moecity773’s wish, though most voters went with “best players available.”

Last, we asked how deeply you got into the draft as a reader in the days and weeks leading up to it.

“Waste of time,” according to @DeyoSahler. “Even the people who know stuff know nothing.”

Gosh, we feel so seen.

On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: What’s your gut reaction to the Bears’ first-round selection of Michigan tight end Colston Loveland?

Upshot: If Loveland is exactly what new coach Ben Johnson thinks he is, this will be chef’s-kiss good. Can he take a big hit? Can he catch the ball with 250 pounds of bad intentions breathing down his neck? These are real questions, too. If Loveland isn’t great — and Warren is — fans aren’t going to be happy.

Poll No. 2: What should the Bears’ top priority be the rest of this draft?

Upshot: “Best available” always sounds awesome until your quarterback is running for his life on every other play.

Poll No. 3: How much time did you spend wading through mock drafts and pre-draft analysis?

Upshot: All that reading, and still you didn’t see Loveland coming. Join the club.