Heading into this season, the Chicago Bears fans were excited to see what head coach Ben Johnson could do with the tight end duo of rookie Colston Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet, based on what he was able to do with Sam LaPorta in Detroit.
For many Bears fans, they envisioned Loveland becoming the TE1 and playing an integral role in the passing game for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. However, they also expected Kmet to be involved in some facet and become a contributor.
Neither of those things happened at first, which was disheartening. But Bears fans were willing to cut Loveland some slack. Kmet, not so much, especially since he was just given a four-year, $50 million extension in July 2023.
Between Weeks 1-10, the veteran tight end recorded a frustrating statline of 11 receptions (23 targets) for 147 yards and a touchdown (eight games). Meanwhile, over that same stretch of time, Loveland started to assert himself as the TE1 with 21 receptions (29 targets) for 289 yards and two scores.
Cole Kmet’s Future in the Windy City Suddenly Back on Thin Ice
However, between Weeks 11-14, Kmet was quietly changing the narrative about his future in the Windy City. The veteran pass catcher had 11 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown and a 91.7 catch rate, which was a nice turnaround from what he did in his previous eight games.
At that point, some Bears fans might’ve thought that the two tight end system could work with Kmet and Loveland. Granted, he’s not the focal point anymore, but there aren’t many teams in the league that have a player of Kmet’s caliber sitting in the background as their TE2.
But those good vibes from Kmet suddenly washed away, as his production has taken a dip over the last three games – six receptions for 58 yards and a 60 percent catch rate. It seems like his recent stretch between Weeks 11-14 was nothing but fool’s gold.
If you are Bears GM Ryan Poles, this is disappointing to see, and it makes you question what Kmet’s future is in Chicago. Luckily for the Bears, Kmet has a potential out in his contract for 2026, which includes $3.2 million in dead cap, per Spotrac.
Before Chicago explores that route, it should explore Kmet’s trade value. There will be teams looking for a starting-caliber tight end, and we know Kmet can play that role. According to Over the Cap, the Bears would save $8.4 million with a pre-June 1 cut or trade, which could be utilized to find another tight end in free agency.
However, if the Bears wait until June 1 to cut or trade Kmet, they’ll save $10 million, which could be enough to get a cheap TE2 and address another position.
Looking at some of the recent trades for tight ends like Darren Waller and Jonnu Smith, the value wasn’t spectacular in return. The Bears should be looking to move Kmet for at least a high Day 3 pick (Round 4, preferably) since he’s only 26 and won’t become a free agent until 2028.
The idea of giving up on Kmet didn’t sound feasible in the offseason, but now, it's looking more like a reality as 2025 wraps up.