The Chicago Bears have been quiet in the first wave of free agency, but while more players have left the Windy City than have arrived, many are still wondering if tight end Cole Kmet will be the next player to get out of town.
Kmet’s name has been floated in trade rumors seemingly since the Bears selected Colston Loveland with the eighth overall pick in last year’s draft. Loveland’s success as a rookie and Kmet’s contract persuaded some to believe that Kmet could be a trade or cut candidate again this offseason. But as it turns out, that four-year, $50 million contract extension could be what keeps Kmet in Chicago next season.
According to Spotrac, Kmet earned a $1 million roster bonus that triggered over the weekend. While that money isn’t guaranteed to keep him in Chicago for another year, it could go a long way as the Bears look to take another step forward in 2026.
Cole Kmet’s Return Odds Grow After Bears Pay Roster Bonus
According to Over The Cap, the Bears still have wiggle room to move on from Kmet if they so choose. A pre-June 1 trade or release would save Chicago $8.4 million against the salary cap and require them to pay just $3.2 million in dead money. But it may also create an unnecessary hole for a team that could use weapons and depth as they enter next season.
The biggest factor to keep Kmet is the normal wear and tear over a season. Loveland was limited during the offseason program due to shoulder surgery, and while he finished with 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns, he could use a reliable backup.
Kmet isn’t a spectacular player who saw his numbers (30 catches, 347 yards, 4 TD) drop for the second straight year after posting career-highs with 73 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns in 2023, but he may be better and cost about the same compared to some of the other options on the market.
Adding a player like David Njoku, who has a $9.9 million projected market value from Spotrac, or Jonnu Smith, who is valued at $7.3 million, might be overkill for a Bears team that has needs to fill on the defensive side of the ball. Even going deeper into the free agency well for bargain options, including Darren Waller ($3.2 million) and Zach Ertz ($2.2 million), may not give Chicago the offensive upside at the position if Loveland were to go down with an injury.
There’s also the fact that the Bears need playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Chicago will rely on Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III at wide receiver after trading DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. But they may also make greater use of multiple tight end sets with free agent pickup Kalif Raymond projected as the No. 3 receiver.
Ben Johnson’s scheme has traditionally been used with one tight end on the field. However, Kmet serves a role as an inline blocker, logging 56.6 percent of his snaps at the position and posting serviceable run-blocking (62.2) and pass-blocking (70.2) grades last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Add in the decision to pay him his roster bonus instead of just cutting him, and it feels like Kmet received a big hint as to where he’ll be playing in 2026. It’s a situation that may not be perfect due to his salary, but it prevents the Bears from making an unnecessary move as they look to capitalize on last year’s success.