Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet enjoyed a breakout season in 2022. The former second-round pick from Notre Dame set a career-high with seven touchdown catches and totaled 50 receptions for 544 yards. His catches, yards, and touchdowns led all Bears receivers.
Kmet will enter the final year of his contract next season and is now eligible for a new deal, should general manager Ryan Poles want to give him one. The Bears could wait until next year to lock up Kmet long-term, but they risk him enjoying an even better season and breaking the bank in unrestricted free agency. It’s highly unlikely Chicago would use the franchise tag on a tight end in 2024.
Cole Kmet has fans inside Halas Hall, including coach Matt Eberflus, who sang his tight end’s praises in November. If it was up to the coaching staff, there’s no doubt Kmet would be a Bear for a long time.
“Cole is a special guy,” Eberflus said. “He’s energy, he’s enthusiasm. He brings light into a room. He’s everything we stand for.”
