The moment the Chicago Bears opted to draft Colston Loveland, there was a sense that Cole Kmet was operating on borrowed time. Looking at it simply, there isn't a path for the Bears to pay both players and continue to evenly feature them while also utilizing receivers DJ Moore, Luther Burden III, and Rome Odunze. While this is a great problem to have, it is making its answer obvious with Kmet falling out of favor. The tight end has caught more than two passes in a game since Black Friday.
Furthering this point is the fact that since Nov. 16, Kmet has been targeted more than three times, just once. This led up to Chicago's impressive playoff win over Green Bay, where Kmet had zero catches on two targets and one rushing attempt for a single yard. Meanwhile, Loveland was targeted 15 times and had 137 receiving yards as well as an incredible 90.6 Pro Football Focus rating. Loveland has become the star tight end in Chicago, leaving Kmet a clear path for a potential exit.
Already, this has been speculated on, with Kmet having reason to consider asking for a trade at the end of the season. With that said, there is still plenty of road ahead for the tight end to change this perspective, putting together a meaningful run en route to the Super Bowl.
Bears Tight End Cole Kmet Appears to Be on His Way Out as Production Struggles Continue
As recently as the 2023 season, Kmet was a featured weapon, piling up 719 receiving yards and six touchdowns on the season. Still, it is hard to blame the Bears for chasing Loveland, considering the higher ceiling and the clear fit that has been shown with a defining playoff performance. For Kmet, there seems to be little choice but to make a change via a trade or roster cut, as both are viable offseason options.
Kmet has two years remaining on his deal, but would only be a $3 million dead cap hit if cut at the start of the 2026 offseason. This is a very real possibility with Kmet likely wanting to control his own landing spot and free agency offering this, as well as a chance to cash in once again after being signed to a high-dollar contract by the Bears previously.
For the Bears, this was an inevitability as Chicago had too many stars to target, making it obvious that someone would be left out. With the Bears' star weapons all under contract, it is a great problem to have, and the team could opt to sit back and force Kmet to return despite the contract situation. However, the more likely scenario is that Kmet is playing his final games with the franchise, no matter how the season ends.