Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles took care of one significant contract issue at the start of training camp, signing tight end Cole Kmet to a four-year, $50 million extension.
Kmet's $12.5 million average annual salary ranks among the top 10 in the NFL and could be viewed as a bargain a season or two from now, especially if he has another big touchdown season in 2023.
"Certainly excited about that," coach Matt Eberflus said of Kmet's extension. "Having that type of guy, that type of tight end, that type of man that reps everything we want to represent at the Chicago Bears...and certainly he has a bright future ahead of him with the Chicago Bears."
Here are four takeaways from Cole Kmet's big payday.
Bears have identified Cole Kmet as a foundational player
Cole Kmet is one of several Bears players who were (and still are) up for new contracts this season, and he's the first to get a new deal. That says a lot about where GM Ryan Poles' priorities are.
Kmet inks his new deal before Jaylon Johnson, Darnell Mooney, and Chase Claypool, three players at premium positions.
But it was the tight end who got his money first. At just 24 years old, this could be the first of a few contracts he signs in Chicago, especially if Poles remains the team's most important decision-maker.
Cole Kmet is setting up for a career season
With the distraction of a new contract behind him, Cole Kmet is in line for a breakout year.
Fresh off of a seven-touchdown season, the arrow on Kmet's career was already pointing up. Now financially secure, he can focus on honing his craft and his connection with Justin Fields.
Kmet led the Bears in all major receiving categories in 2022, something that likely won't happen again with DJ Moore on the roster. But there's a chance he can be the team's leader in touchdown receptions.
If he hits the paint 10 times in 2023, his $12.5 million per season will become very team-friendly.
Bears can let remaining contract issues play out on the field
With Kmet under contract for the next four seasons, Poles can let the remaining players on expiring contracts prove their worth on the field.
Logic suggests it's a 'one or the other' situation at wide receiver; it's unlikely the Bears will re-sign both Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney at season's end. Whoever proves to be more valuable in 2023 will cash in at some point.
Jaylon Johnson is in a similar situation. With the early-round investments the Bears made in cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson, a big contract for Johnson may not be necessary. But if he has a career year in interceptions, or the analytics prove he's one of the best cover guys in the league? He'll get his money.
With Kmet's contract done, the Bears have less to lose by playing the waiting game.
A good guy gets what he deserves
Has Cole Kmet played like one of the top tight ends in the NFL since joining the Bears in 2020? Not really. He's good, no doubt. Is he great? I think it's equally safe to say he hasn't been.
But he's only 24. George Kittle was a rookie at 24, and he didn't break out until he was 25. The point? Kmet is still a young player, and with how long it generally takes tight ends to become stars, the best is ahead of the former second-round pick.
It's great to see a good guy get rewarded, too. Kmet is a genuinely good guy who's good for the locker room, good for the rebuilding culture in Chicago, and a role model for young Bears fans to look up to.
Those guys need to stick around. Fortunately, Kmet will for a while.