The Chicago Bears made a somewhat surprising decision to take tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Tyler Warren was TE1 in most big boards, but the Bears clearly thought Loveland was a better fit. Regardless, his arrival in the Windy City looked like the beginning of the end for Cole Kmet.
Ultimately, Loveland's impressive rookie season made the Bears look good, and, by contrast, he may have made Kmet look expendable. The team held onto him past the trade deadline, but they may not feel the same way as he enters his seventh year in the league.
The limited tight end market has given Bears general manager Ryan Poles a perfect opportunity to move on from Kmet at a potentially higher value than last season. Most of the big names, like Travis Kelce, Cade Otton, Chig Okonkwo, Isaiah Likely, and Noah Fant, already signed new deals, and tight-end-needy teams might be desperate for veteran help.
Cole Kmet Trade Should Be on Bears' Radar
Kmet is under contract for the next two seasons. Per Spotrac, he's slated to make $8.9 million in 2026 and 2027. However, teams could save $10 million in cap space by cutting him after the 2026 season, per Over The Cap. That makes his contract quite manageable, and teams wouldn't be on the hook for the long run.
Of course, there are still other veterans available. Zach Ertz, Darren Waller, and David Njoku are looking for work; however, the first is coming off a season-ending injury, the second has already retired once, and the third is coming off an injury-riddled and disappointing campaign.
On top of that, this NFL draft class isn't deep at the position, so teams may not have much of a choice but to explore the trade market, thus making Kmet an intriguing pickup.
Admittedly, losing Kmet would force head coach Ben Johnson to think things through. The Bears ran 12 personnel at the second-highest clip in the league last season (1,103 plays) behind only the Dallas Cowboys (1,120 plays). That's a crucial part of his offensive system, and the team would need to make a move to offset this trade.
Loveland got off to a slow start to the season, but he picked things up after his breakout game in Week 7 (six catches on seven targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns). He led the team with 713 receiving yards and was tied for the most receiving touchdowns (6), all while Kmet failed to reach 50 receiving yards in any game last season.
While Stephen Carlson and Nikola Kalinic don't give the Bears much insurance at the position and aren't known for being reliable blockers, that shouldn't deter the Bears from at least testing Kmet's market. Besides, Poles & Co. can likely find Loveland some help with ease.
Blocking tight ends can always be found at a discount, like Jack Stoll or Blake Whiteheart, so they could always make another move if they're not fully sold on their TE room after trading him.
That said, this was just the second time in Kmet's career that he didn't get at least 450 receiving yards or catch at least 47 passes in a single season. He has at least two receiving touchdowns in all but one season, and he had most of his production before Johnson overhauled the offense. Perhaps, other teams could be tempted to give him an extended role.
The Bears could also use him as a salary cap casualty, as cutting him would save them $9 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. At the same time, Chicago would be better off holding on to him rather than cutting ties for nothing, meaning it's likely best to hold out hope for a trade.
With a potential trade offering the Bears cap space, a potential draft pick, and more room for Loveland to grow, moving on from Kmet can't be overlooked. The fact that the draft is around the corner only heightens the probability that a trade could happen in the coming weeks.