So many stories surround the Chicago Bears offense going into this season. Will Andy Dalton hold off Justin Fields? Who will step up at wide receiver alongside Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney? Will Matt Nagy commit to running the ball with David Montgomery? Can the offensive line hold up? In the midst of all that, one other person hasn’t been talked about as much. What is going to happen with Cole Kmet?
The first pick of the Bears’ fascinating 2020 draft class. One that has arguably exceeded expectations already thanks to the standout rookie years from Mooney and Jaylon Johnson. Kmet though went the highest for a reason. The team believes he has the most potential to be a really good player for this team. He didn’t get a chance to show his progress in the preseason though, so all anybody has is stories of him dominating practices.
That isn’t enough for some.
They need to see it in games. Still, it’s not like the optimism is exclusive to those at Halas Hall. Dan Pompei spoke to a number of scouts around the NFL about the state of the Bears’ roster. When the topic of Kmet came up, they were surprisingly encouraged by where he is going. Two of them outright stated he will be a good player if the Bears give him a proper chance to prove it.
It shouldn’t be difficult to find uses for Cole Kmet. Scout B said he expects to see a jump from Kmet in his second season. Scout C concurs, saying, “Kmet is gonna be good.” Scout A believes Kmet has “top-end starter upside,” adding he just needs an opportunity.
Scout D questions if Kmet will be dynamic in the passing game but thinks he can do enough to keep defenses honest. He also said Kmet is a solid in-line blocker.
This is something that held true last season. While his overall numbers weren’t anything special, his final five games were the first glimpse of progress. He finished with 20 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. That would’ve averaged out to 476 yards and three touchdowns had the same commitment been carried out the entire year. Pretty solid for a rookie. This is why people are hopeful.
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Cole Kmet needs two things to happen for a big year
He has to show he’s improved his route running. Something that was an issue for him last season. Too often defenders were able to stay glued to him in coverage, making it difficult to get open down the field. Something that is often a hurdle for young tight ends. The other part is getting his quarterbacks to throw him the ball. Too often Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles weren’t willing to go his way. This despite evidence it would often work out even when he looked covered.
Throughout 2020, Cole Kmet was targeted a total of 46 times. Nine of those targets were deemed “contested.” Meaning a defender was right there to battle for the ball. Kmet caught six of those passes. This is a good sign that more often than not, it doesn’t matter if he’s covered. Give him a chance and he’ll make the play. That is where being 6’6 and 260 lbs of mostly muscle can have benefits.
This offseason hasn’t been wasted either.
Kmet spent time learning from the likes of Greg Olsen, Travis Kelce, and George Kittle. Guys who are or were some of the best at the position in the NFL. If he took their lessons to heart and apply them to his game? Then he has the talent to become the best tight end the Bears have drafted in a decade. Hopefully, Andy Dalton and/or Justin Fields will help him realize that potential.
