Last offseason, it seemed that the writing was already on the wall for Cole Kmet. The Chicago Bears used a high first-round pick to get Colston Loveland, and with multiple teams potentially wanting a veteran tight end, Kmet looked like an obvious trade candidate.
Kmet managed to live for another day last season, and he also survived another training camp with the team. He's still a potential trade candidate, and the Bears could save $2.3 million by moving him, according to Over The Cap. Also, adding another rookie tight end to the mix raised more doubts about his future with the organization.
Nevertheless, the Bears are getting much more out of him than just his on-field production. As Sam Roush told the media, the veteran has taken him under his wing and, just like he did with Loveland last season, is making him better by leading by example and setting a high standard.
Cole Kmet will be instrumental to Sam Roush's development
"He's super detail-oriented," Roush said. "It's been really cool to watch him go through his process. He's doing like an hour-long warmup before practice, which is pretty impressive that he is able to come in and do it every single day. It's been great. He's a guy that does it the right way... That greatness rubs off as long as you're subscribing to the culture and continuing to get closer to guys."
Kmet is just 27 years old, so it's not like he's on his way out of the league, but he's one of the most seasoned veterans on one of the youngest teams in the game. He's been there, done that, and can help the youngsters get a hold of the perks and demands that come with turning pro.
Of course, his production has taken a dip in recent years, and it's hard to believe that trend will change any time soon, at least for as long as Loveland and the Bears' plethora of pass-catching playmakers are healthy.
That said, all teams need veterans; sometimes they're more valuable in the locker room than on the gridiron. The Bears drafted Roush in the third round to be a blocking specialist and potentially the TE2 of the future, and Kmet's mentorship will certainly work wonders in that regard and help speed up the process.
Kmet could've taken an entirely different approach to this situation. In the past two years, the Bears have drafted two of his potential replacements, one of whom has already leaped past him in the pecking order.
But instead of looking at them as competition, he's embracing his role as a veteran leader and doing what's best for the team. He may not have as much upside as his younger teammates, but he knows a trick or two and is more than willing to pass that knowledge down to the next generation.
So, yeah, the financial relief that would come with a trade may not be worth the hassle. He'd probably be a starter for at least two-thirds of the teams in the league, but unless someone is willing to give up a premium return, this team will probably be better off with him in town.
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