Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet is entering his third season after being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. As a prospect, Kmet was dubbed a Rob Gronkowski-like do-it-all tight end who’d bully smaller defenders as a high-end, big-bodied athlete in the passing game. He hasn’t quite lived up to those expectations yet, but tight ends often take longer to develop in the NFL. And considering Kmet is only 23 years old, his upside remains incredibly high.
Kmet finished the 2021 season with 60 catches for 612 yards. He doubled his receptions and yardage total from his rookie year, but his failure to score any touchdowns last year remains a stain on his second season. Still, he proved he’s developing, and with growing chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields, Kmet has a chance to become one of the more productive tight ends in the NFC.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kmet is among the six potential breakout players in the conference this season.
“Kmet’s uptick in targets from his rookie season (46) to his sophomore campaign (89) was significant,” PFF’s Kambui Bomani wrote. “He took on an elevated role in last year’s passing game, setting the stage for a 60-reception season and career-high 63.4 receiving and offensive grades. Now in Year 3, he has a chance to be a breakout star thanks largely to questions at Chicago’s offensive skill positions.”
