Bears TE Cole Kmet
Getty
Bears TE Cole Kmet
After an 11-6 turnaround under Ben Johnson and a breakout rookie season fromColston Loveland, theChicago Bears suddenly have a roster crunch heading into the 2026 offseason.
And one of the most respected veterans in the locker room,Cole Kmet, may be caught in the middle of it.
When Chicago spent the 10th overall pick on Colston Loveland, it wasn’t universally praised. Drafting a tight end that high rarely is. But the rookie immediately validated the decision.
More importantly, Loveland quickly became a go-to target for quarterbackCaleb Williams, especially late in the season and into the playoffs.
However, as his role expanded, Kmet’s role shrank as he posted just 347 yards, his lowest since his rookie year. The chemistry difference became noticeable too as the offense increasingly flowed through Loveland, not Kmet.
The contract problem
Bears TE Cole Kmet
GettyChicago Bears TE Cole Kmet
The contract situation is where things get uncomfortable. Cole Kmet still has two years left on his deal at roughly $10-11.6 million per season, but none of it is guaranteed. That makes him aclassic cap casualty candidate.
Cutting Kmet wouldresult in a dead cap hit of $3.2 million and about $8.4 million of cap savings. For a team tight against the salary cap and needing help at multiple positions, that number matters… A lot. Keeping a high priced TE2 is a luxury contenders often can’t afford.
Another potential option would be to trade him. Recoup a draft pick or two and choose where he lands. But the thing is, the market isn’t cooperating.
Several starting caliber tight ends such asDavid Njoku,Kyle Pitts, andIsaiah Likely are expected to hit free agency, meaning teams may prefer signing one without giving up assets. That reduces leverage and increases the possibility that the Chicago Bears simply release him.
A victim of progress
Bears TE Cole Kmet
GettyChicago Bears TE Cole Kmet
However, I believe that getting rid of Cole Kmet would be a massive mistake. He remained a strong run blocker, reliable in pass protection, clutch in key moments (including a game tying playoff TD), and valuable in heavy personnel packages.
In fact, Chicago’s scheme actually benefits from two tight ends as Ben Johnson frequently used 12 and 13 personnel. In 2025, the Bears used the sixth highest percentage of 12 personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends) in the NFL and the fifth highest percentage of 13 personnel.
When both tight ends are on the field:
linebackers hesitate before triggering downhill
safeties can’t immediately widen into coverage
edge rushers slow their upfield charge on play action
passing windows open earlier for Williams
Remove Kmet, and defenses gain information. They don’t have to respect two-gap edges or condensed run looks nearly as much. The offense likely becomes faster, but also easier to diagnose.
Financially, moving on is logical. Schematically, it risks changing why the offense worked in the first place. Cause right now, the Chicago Bears might have the best tight end duo in the entire league.