The Chicago Bears head into the offseason with decisions to make around several veterans. With the emergence of Colston Loveland, the idea of moving on from Cole Kmet was a hot topic among fans. Loveland took over as the starter and looks poised for a breakout season in 2026.
Nonetheless, it appears that Kmet will actually be part of the team's plans down the line. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune was a guest on "104.3 The Score Chicago" on Feb. 25 and stated the Bears value what Kmet brings to the team. He said, "They're not evaluating him through the lens of fantasy football statistics."
Biggs even added it would be surprising if Kmet isn't on the roster and thinks it's more likely that Chicago considers an extension that lowers his cap hit than moving off of him. That's a telling statement and paints the picture of Kmet's outlook for the 2026 season.
Bears Are Likely to Keep Cole Kmet for Next Season
Kmet is on the books at $11.6 million for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, per Spotrac. For a player who has seen his usage dip over the last three seasons, fans believed they could reallocate those funds elsewhere.
Cole Kmet 2023 Stats | Cole Kmet 2024 Stats | Cole Kmet 2025 Stats |
|---|---|---|
Catches: 73 | Catches: 47 | Catches: 30 |
Receiving Yards: 719 | Receiving Yards: 474 | Receiving Yards: 347 |
Touchdowns: 6 | Touchdowns: 4 | Touchdowns: 2 |
Biggs added that Kmet can make an impact as both a receiver and run blocker, which is a major bonus. This past season was Kmet's lowest totals in receptions and yards since his rookie year in 2020. That's never ideal, but he still found ways to make an impact on this offense.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kmet had a 62.2 run-blocking grade and consistently created holes. His grit in that area of the game opened things up for Loveland as a pass-catcher, letting him blossom.
While the numbers weren't what fans have seen from the Notre Dame product in the past, he's still a player the team wants to keep around. Injuries are a part of the game as well, so having a high-end TE2 in a system that loves to run the ball is a nice weapon for this offense.
One thing that could get in the way is how big of a pay cut Chicago wants Kmet to take. He's still 26 years old and is in the prime of his career. He may still want to make a sizable amount, but the Bears have a place for him on this team.
While it isn't a priority for this team with free agency and the NFL draft at the forefront of its mind, this is likely to be on its to-do list this offseason. Finding a way to lower Kmet's cap hit but keeping him around for the future would be a smart move for this roster.
Even though he taken a step back as a receiving threat, he's still a 6'6" target who brings the juice as a run blocker. Kmet is valuable depth and would allow this offense to continue building continuity under Ben Johnson.