Justin Fields has a lot of pressure on him this season. The young quarterback struggled in 2021. Some of that was his own doing. His tendency to hold the ball too long and not process quickly led to unnecessary hits and turnovers. At the same time, the situation around him didn’t make that easier. The Chicago Bears offense has serious questions about its talent. Wide receivers and the offensive line were the primary focus this off-season, but some pointed to Cole Kmet as a person of serious interest.
The former 2nd round pick was supposed to be a difference-maker for the team. His mixture of size and athleticism coming out of Notre Dame was impressive. He, too, had a modest rookie season in 2020. Hopes were high that he could take a step forward last year. Technically he did, going for over 600 yards. However, he failed to score a single touchdown and dropped five passes. People wonder if he can be a reliable target for Fields. Clay Harbor is confident he can. The former NFL tight end spoke to David Kaplan on Unfiltered about it.
Cole Kmet has plenty to prove this year.
He had some valid excuses for why his development lagged through the first two seasons. For one, he was only 21 years old when the Bears drafted him. Not only that, but he also split time between football and baseball in college. So his understanding of his position wasn’t as advanced as it could’ve been. Then there was the offense itself. Nobody can say Matt Nagy had a firm grasp on what his players did best. That is why his system never functioned at a high level. It isn’t unreasonable to think Luke Getsy can do a better job.
Harbor played almost a decade in the NFL as a tight end. He also played alongside guys like Brent Celek, Marcedes Lewis, and Rob Gronkowski. So he knows what good tight ends resemble. For him to say such glowing things about Cole Kmet is worth getting excited about. It means he is trending in the right direction. There are still things he can do better. That was to be expected. Yet it sounds like he’s becoming someone Fields trusts. Such chemistry often leads to good things on the field.
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