The Chicago Bears landed a true gem in Colston Loveland. They looked foolish at first, given that most scouts and experts had Tyler Warren as the consensus TE1 in the class of 2025, and Loveland wasn't much of a factor early, but it didn't take long before he proved to be the real deal.
After a slow start to the campaign, Loveland finished the season with 58 receptions on 82 targets for 713 yards and six touchdowns. He stepped up when it mattered the most and developed a strong rapport with Caleb Williams.
That, plus his diminished production, made veteran Cole Kmet a no-brainer trade candidate. And, with Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox projecting his trade value at a veteran defender or a conditional fourth-round pick, trading him should be the easiest decision to make for GM Ryan Poles.
The Bears need to make the most of Cole Kmet's trade value
"The longtime starter lost the TE1 role to Colston Loveland last season, and the Bears just added another tight end in rookie third-round pick Sam Roush. While Kmet can be a valuable role player in 2026, trading him could also help Chicago address a position of greater need," Knox wrote.
Kmet is a solid player, but it always felt like he could've been better. He never truly took off as a pass-catching threat, and with rookie Sam Roush also in the mix, there's not much of a point in keeping him around.
Teams are hoarding as many picks as possible ahead of next year's stacked class, so adding a mid-round selection would be more valuable than in most years. But more than that, adding a veteran starter to the defense would be even bigger.
The Bears have done little to address their glaring concerns on that side of the field. The defensive line left plenty to be desired, the pass-rush doesn't have much to rely on beyond Montez Sweat, and there aren't many options left in free agency.
Of course, it's not like the Bears will get Maxx Crosby by trading Cole Kmet, but anything helps at this point. Kmet can give a TE-needy team a mid-tier pass catcher who's going to make a couple of plays here and there and maybe even be a mismatch in the end zone, all at a reasonable price.
The Bears could've gladly kept him for the long run if it wasn't for the fact that they have a budding superstar at the position. But with Loveland looking like a future Hall of Famer as a rookie, not clearing the way for him would be poor asset management and a disservice. The writing is on the wall, and the trade value will never be as high, so this should be a no-brainer.
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