The emergence of Cole Kmet during the 2022 season has pushed tight end down the list of needs for the Chicago Bears this offseason, but it doesn’t mean the position will (or should) be ignored.
Kmet finished the year with 50 catches for 544 yards and seven touchdowns. It was a productive season, one that resulted in a career-high in touchdown catches, despite the Bears’ passing offense struggling mightily at the beginning of the year.
But if we’re being honest about Kmet as a player, his upside as a pass-catching threat is limited. He’s a quality red-zone target and a chain-mover on third downs, but his average athleticism makes him more of a big-bodied bailout option than a tight end who can chew up yards after the catch.
The Chicago Bears could find a more explosive tight end in this year’s free-agent market. The Los Angeles Chargers have a tough decision with Gerald Everett, who may be a salary-cap casualty at the start of the 2023 offseason.
