The Chicago Bears' hopes of trading Cole Kmet took a bit of a hit this week, with a comparable tight end making it clear he was hitting the market. Cleveland Browns pass catcher David Njoku posted a farewell message to the Browns, making it clear he wasn't planning to return to the team he has called home since he was drafted in 2017. This is clear competition for Kmet in finding a potential landing spot, as both are comparable in performance, with only Kmet requiring draft pick compensation. Njoku is slated to become an unrestricted free agent, making the path far clearer for teams looking to add at tight end.
This doesn't mean trading Kmet is now implausible, but rather, there is one more roadblock standing in the way. The Bears aren't going to field quite as many potential suitors with Njoku being an enticing piece hitting free agency. This is on top of Isaiah Likely and Kyle Pitts, both expected to become unrestricted free agents, furthering the depth at the position for teams to sign rather than giving up draft capital for Kmet.
While salaries in free agency are obviously unknown, it's not a leap to think Kmet and Njoku will earn very similar numbers in the 2026 season. This only adds to the lack of urgency to give up future assets for what you can add with your cap space at the same price. This is part of the reason why a prospective Kmet trade is truly up for debate as to whether it is the right move.
Path Becomes Less Clear for Kmet Trade After Latest Free Agent News
According to Spotrac, Kmet is set to be an $11.6 million cap hit each of the next two seasons. After the 2025 emergence of Colston Loveland, it seems a bit redundant to pay this type of cap hit when you could free up space in a potential trade to address a position of greater need. The flip side of this is having depth with a capable starter who can step in if Loveland regresses or is injured.
Still, the clearest path is trading Kmet, freeing up cap space, and bringing in a cheaper second option as a blocking upgrade. This path is a bit muddied now, with Njoku's news, and might require a bit more patience from Chicago.
To get the best possible price, it might be in Chicago's best interest to wait out the market and take advantage of the teams that miss out on Njoku and the rest of the top free agents at the position. This seems the most appealing path left if the Bears are serious about exploring potential offseason landing spots for Kmet.