Chicago Bears Player Has Surprise Connection To Top Draft Prospect

Information is everything come NFL draft time. There is no such thing as knowing too much about a prospect. These picks can often turn the fortunes of a franchise. The Chicago Bears have to make sure they get as many picks as possible right, especially the highest ones. GM Ryan Poles shouldn't turn his nose up at any piece of inside information he can get, provided they come from reliable sources. One person he should talk to in the coming weeks is his young tight end, Cole Kmet.

That might sound odd. Kmet is a player. He isn't a scout. It's hard to imagine him doing any tape study of incoming draft prospects. Thankfully that doesn't matter. The Bears would be seeking a different kind of information from him. Details about the personality of somebody. It turns out Frankie Kmet, Cole's sister, attends the University of Iowa and is the girlfriend of star defensive end Lukas Van Ness. Recent projections have him going early in the 1st round. Maybe in the top 10 if he tests well.

That should put him on the Bears' radar. The Kmet family could give them a good idea of Van Ness, the person.

The Chicago Bears should have an interest in Van Ness.

He has the profile of a classic 4-3 defensive end. He's big, long, and powerful. The nickname "Hercules" wasn't earned by accident. This guy has shown an ability to pancake offensive tackles that are considerably bigger than him. His quickness and burst aren't bad, either. The only thing holding him back is an overall lack of polish. His arsenal of pass rush moves isn't fully developed. If a coaching staff could correct this issue, Van Ness could be another Nick or Joey Bosa type of player.

What they need to know is how the young man thinks. Is he totally dedicated to making himself great? They'll interview him personally to get some of those answers. However, it doesn't hurt to reach through back channels. Kmet and his sister have interacted with him several times. They could offer important insight that might help frame the picture better. Never underestimate relationships like this.

Tom Coughlin was railroaded when he took Chris Snee, his son-in-law, in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft. Snee went to four Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls. Perhaps Coughlin knew something others didn't. The same could be true here.