Colston Loveland has been one of the most popular players projected to the Chargers in recent mock drafts at Pick No. 22.
But the Michigan tight end said Thursday at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine that he hasn't met with the Bolts yet.
Not that there's a reason to panic.
"I haven't met with the Chargers, which I think makes sense because they know a lot about me already," Loveland said. "But I've seen Coach.
"It's always good to see him. He's a great guy," Loveland added.
Loveland, of course, played for Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and helped the Wolverines win a national title after the 2024 season.
Loveland to the Chargers appears to make sense on a deeper level than the Harbaugh connection, too.
The Chargers currently have just one tight end (Will Dissly) under contract for the 2025 season, not including futures deals.
Loveland could potentially provide some pop in the passing game after hauling in 56 catches for 582 yards and five scores this past season.
The tight end, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, said Thursday at the podium in Indianapolis that he can excel in any offense in the NFL.
"I would say I'm one of the best route runners in this draft," Loveland said. "I truly believe that. I think I got great hands.
"Obviously, I got a lot to work on throughout my whole game, but I feel like I'm pretty polished and just excited to keep getting better," Loveland added.
Loveland wore a sling on his right shoulder during his media session and said he is recovering well from a recent surgery.
"Just a speed bump in the road," Loveland said. "Everything happens for a reason. I truly believe that. I think I'll be all right with whatever happens."
On the field, Loveland is generally viewed as one of the draft's best players.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network has Loveland as his No. 7 overall player while The Athletic's Dane Brugler tabbed Loveland at No. 11.
Jeremiah said last week that some teams might have Loveland at the top of their tight end group.
"I think some teams are going to have him as the top tight end," Jeremiah said. "Two different styles there with him and Tyler Warren, but he's someone who can really, really run, can get in and out of breaks, fluid for a bigger guy.
"He can go get it with a huge catch radius, he's tough physical after the catch," Jeremiah added. "Then in the run game he does enough, he stays connected and shows want to. He's one of the top 10 players in the draft for me.
The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in exactly eight weeks from Green Bay. Time will tell if Loveland lands with the Bolts.
Here are some top quotes from other tight end prospects, listed in alphabetical order, who spoke Thursday.
TE Elijah Arroyo, Miami
On himself as a player:
"An absolute dog. Someone who's willing to do whatever it takes to win games. I feel like I'm a very selfless player. I'll always put the team first."
On his football journey:
"I played one year of football down in South Florida. Then I moved over to Mexico. I played there six years. I feel like the sport of football in Mexico grew a lot throughout my years out there. I learned the game in Spanish first, which was pretty cool. And then I came back over and I realized how similar things were. It's still the same sport; it's still football. Moving from Mexico to Texas, the guys were a little bigger. More guys my size, bigger than I was. I was used to being the biggest guy in Mexico."
TE Gunnar Helm, Texas
On his blocking ability:
"I think I put better stuff on tape in the prior years than I did this past season. I think some of my technique went out the window as I was focusing more on my speed, working on my explosiveness. Just working on that. Working on getting my hand placement right. Working on getting my pad level right. I think it's going to be very important in the National Football League to be able to be a balanced tight end."
On his college career:
"Maybe I'm labeled as a receiver right now but going back to the film and what I've done in the past, what I've done my first three years at Texas, I played a lot of college football at a very high level. I played in a very high-powered, high-level, high IQ offense for a long time. I'd like to say I know that offense like the back of my hand. I think my versatility, my IQ sets me apart a little bit."
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
On his skillset:
"What I try and do is be a guy that can kind of fit in a lot of different roles. I don't know if I have one that really sticks out the best. That's kind of fun about the tight end position is you get to do a lot of different things within the offense."
On his being well-rounded:
"It's really been both. Obviously being a tight end — if you want to be a really good one — you're going to have to do both. You can't just go out and catch passes and can't just be a run blocker at that spot. That's the point I've been trying to get across when I've met with teams."
On his college development:
"When I got to Penn State I wasn't a fully developed tight end yet. I had to wait my turn and learn from the guys in front of me, understanding I was not at the point I needed to be in order to play and contribute and trusting the process. Everybody's looks different. Mine took a few years until I got into the flow of college football."
