Understandably, Chicago Bears fans remain focused on the wide receiver and offensive line positions this offseason. Both were significant issues for this team last year and need to improve if Justin Fields takes a step forward. This makes it easy to overlook the presence of Cole Kmet at tight end. The entire situation around the third-year player is intriguing. It is almost like he’s an afterthought to many despite having a pretty solid second season in 2021 with over 600 yards.
Some have already pegged him as a draft bust. That is neither true nor fair. Taking such a considerable jump in production from his rookie year while playing in a disjointed offensive scheme under Matt Nagy and having to catch passes from three different quarterbacks is admirable. He certainly seems to have gained the confidence of Fields. The two reportedly have worked together multiple times this offseason.
Fans get weird with Kmet (weird = dumb) but Fields loves him. And he’s going to be a productive TE for years. https://t.co/5PyjK1k3n2
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) April 1, 2022
Then there is the matter of the new offense.
Luke Getsy brings a hybrid system with him to Chicago. It is expected to feature a mix of Joe Moorhead’s RPO-driven offense from college and the Shanahan outside zone offense. People often forget how important the tight end position has been to the latter over the years. It is always at its most successful when it has one capable of being a pass-catcher involved.
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- Shannon Sharpe in Denver
- Owen Daniels in Houston
- George Kittle in San Francisco
- Robert Tonyan in Green Bay
Flashback to 2009, Owen Daniels TD on a corner post route, similar design to the Kittle play, also out of 13p. pic.twitter.com/8K0PQbsFM1
— Rich (@richjmadrid) August 12, 2020
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Kittle TD in 13p on a corner post against GB in 2019. pic.twitter.com/0K2T8RPCHp
— Rich (@richjmadrid) August 12, 2020
The #Packers have re-signed TE Robert Tonyan.
Tonyan had a breakout 11 touchdown season last yearpic.twitter.com/qoCud37LKH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 27, 2021
Cole Kmet has every bit the opportunity to become that sort of target moving forward. This offensive system is built to help create prime receiving opportunities for tight ends. It depends on whether they’re athletic enough to get open and can make difficult catches. Kmet has proven he can do both. Yes, he’s not a premier athlete and will not take the top off defenses with speed. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a threat.
If he could produce in an offense that seemed to actively work against him, then it stands to reason he can look so much better in one that caters to his strengths, especially when he has a quarterback that has confidence in him.
