All the talk about the Chicago Bears offense over the past couple of months has been about their wide receivers. They already had one stud in place with D.J. Moore. Then, they added Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. It is arguably the best trio of receivers this franchise has ever put together. Meanwhile, everybody seems to forget the Bears also have one of the better tight ends in the league. Over the past two years, Cole Kmet has made a strong case that he belongs in the top 10.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN surveyed executives, coaches, and scouts on this subject, and somehow, the 25-year-old was left off the list. It wouldn’t be so bad if guys like Dalton Kincaid, Evan Engram, and Dalton Schultz weren’t placed above him. Kincaid was a rookie last season who finished with fewer yards and touchdowns than Kmet despite getting more targets. Engram had more yards but also way more targets (143 to 90) and two fewer touchdowns. Schultz also had fewer yards and touchdowns. Don’t forget those three players also had significantly better quarterbacks throwing them the football while Kmet made do with Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent. Even one of the personnel people Fowler talked to agrees he’s overlooked.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: Kmet made a serious push for the top 10 with 73 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns, despite quarterback uncertainty in Chicago. “Very underrated,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “We just don’t know a lot about him because of Chicago’s passing game. He’s solid all-around.”
For starters, he has a young quarterback with some of the best pure arm talent the Bears have had in years. Caleb Williams can throw with rare accuracy and touch, putting the ball into tight windows. He’s not afraid to work the middle of the field, either. That bodes well for Kmet. Then, there is the presence of new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Before ascending to that position, he spent much of his NFL career as a tight ends coach in New England and Los Angeles. He likes to run a lot of “12” personnel with two tight ends on the field. Waldron features the position a lot.
There is no denying Cole Kmet is the best talent he’s worked with to this point as well. It feels like the wider NFL has ignored his growth for way too long. Everybody was ready to dismiss the former 2nd round pick as a lost cause after his quiet rookie season. He was nothing more than the best tight end in a weak draft class. It turns out those people did what happens too often these days. They assumed the player would never grow. Kmet has morphed into a legitimate weapon, and now he has more motivation than ever to prove how good he is.
