A lot of experts shrugged their shoulders when the Chicago Bears drafted Cole Kmet with their first pick of the 2020 draft. While most acknowledge the Notre Dame tight end was the best of his position group, they also felt he wasn't the best player on the board. Many even feel cornerback Jaylon Johnson who they got a few picks later would've been a better choice.
So what's the issue? There is no singular reasoning but it does come down to two primary concerns. Some feel Kmet doesn't possess the true upside of a #1 tight end when it comes to receiving. He's a big target but viewed as a good-not-great athlete. Others have concerns about his polish having posted just one year of modest production for the Irish. Considering half his school time was spent playing baseball, it's fair to wonder how far along he is.
The Bears didn't care. They picked him anyway because they saw a special talent that if cultivated properly could blossom into what this team hasn't had in years. Based on early returns from training camp, the defensive coaches aren't thrilled with the pick. Chuck Pagano spoke glowingly of the rookie.
"They pose a great threat and it's a great opportunity to find out who can cover and who can't. We match them up in one-on-one situations. You guys saw that. Yesterday we were down in the red area. So those are two big-time players.
Obviously Jimmy's been around for a long, long time...and...Cole being a rookie coming out, he's going to be a phenomenal football player. I think we can all see that."
Cole Kmet has an excellent structure around him
That is high praise from somebody like Pagano. Kmet reportedly took Bears defenders to school at times in his second practice. A welcome sign that he can indeed exert his obvious physical advantages over NFL defensive backs. The question is can he do it to a consistent degree? If nothing else, the Bears have put a structure around him that few can complain about.
He has a former All-Pro in Jimmy Graham as his mentor. That isn't just a statement. It's a fact. Graham has said that while he intends to fight for his playing time, he takes it as a personal challenge to mentor younger players. No doubt a big reason the Bears signed him. On top of that, he has Clancy Barone as his position coach. A man with well over a decade of NFL experience who has worked with multiple Pro Bowlers in the past.
Their influence appears to be showing on the rookie already.
