Let’s get this out of the way: Cole Kmet didn’t suddenly forget how to play football in 2024. The guy still caught damn near everything thrown his way. But the Bears’ offense? Hot garbage. Blame rookie QB jitters, blame a neutered scheme, blame the ghost of Matt Nagy still haunting Halas Hall. Whatever. The point is, Kmet was criminally underused, and it tanked his numbers. But now? Ben Johnson’s in town. And if his track record tells us anything, it’s that he might just turn Kmet into an absolute problem for defenses in 2025.
From Climb to Crash: The Tale of Two Kmet Seasons
In 2023, Kmet was cooking. He posted 73 catches, 719 yards, and six scores. Solid TE1 numbers, especially in an offense that was barely functional half the time. Then came 2024, where he dropped to 47 catches, 474 yards, and four touchdowns. That’s not just regression — that’s falling off a cliff. But before you go blaming Kmet, look closer.
According to NFL.com, he caught 47 of his 55 targets. That’s an 85.5% catch rate — freakish efficiency. The problem? He only got 55 targets. That put him behind DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and rookie Rome Odunze. Hell, he was fourth on a team that threw to tight ends fewer times than any other team not named the New York Giants. Only 70 targets to the entire TE room? That’s malpractice.
Enter Ben Johnson: The Tight End Whisperer
Now cue the dramatic music. Ben Johnson walks in from Detroit with a playbook full of creative route combos, tight end motion packages, and red zone wizardry. In Detroit, he turned nobodies like Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra into end zone threats. After T.J. Hockenson got shipped out, Johnson didn’t flinch. His offense still cooked with scrap-heap TEs combining for 9 TD's.
Then came Sam LaPorta, who under Johnson’s guidance looked like George Kittle and Travis Kelce had a baby. LaPorta exploded as a rookie. Why? Because Johnson knows how to build an offense where tight ends aren’t just glorified blockers — they’re matchup nightmares.
Johnson ran 12-personnel (two TEs on the field) on 32.2% of plays in 2024 — second highest in the league. That’s not by accident. It’s a calculated attack strategy to make defenses play chess while Johnson plays 4D Hungry Hungry Hippos.
Why Kmet Fits the Johnson Mold Perfectly
Johnson doesn’t want one-dimensional tight ends. He wants war machines — guys who can block a linebacker into the dirt on one play, then roast a safety on a seam route the next. Kmet, at 6’6” and 260 lbs, checks every damn box. He’s built like a fridge with legs, moves like a tight end who ran track, and hasn’t missed a game in five seasons.
Durability? Check. Blocking? Check. Red zone threat? Check. Soft hands? He’s basically got Stickum in his gloves. The only thing missing in 2024 was opportunity — and Johnson’s offense is all about creating it.
Competition? Sure. But Not a Dealbreaker
Yeah, the Bears drafted Colston Loveland in the first round. He’s the shiny new toy. But don’t get it twisted — this isn’t an either/or situation. Johnson wants multiple tight ends, and he schemes for both to feast. Think Gronk and Hernandez, minus the felonies. Loveland brings elite athleticism and upside. Kmet brings veteran savvy and proven blocking. Together? They could be Johnson’s new LaPorta + Wright combo on steroids.
And let’s not forget: Kmet just got PAID. Four years, $50 million. That’s not backup money. That’s “we believe in you” cash. The Bears aren’t investing that kind of dough to turn him into a decoy. Johnson’s got every reason to feature him — and make good on that contract.
Tight End Usage League-Wide: Kmet Got Screwed
Let’s add some context. In 2024, guys like Trey McBride and Brock Bowers had 147+ targets. Kmet? 55. That’s less than half. Per FantasyPros, the Bears ranked second to dead-last in total TE targets. SECOND TO DEAD-LAST. You don’t need a film degree to realize that’s a waste of talent.
Teams that fed their tight ends — Vegas, Arizona, Kansas City — got results. Tight ends accounted for 20-25% of targets on those teams. Kmet? Just 10.5%. That’s not a talent issue. That’s a coaching felony.
Red Zone Starvation Diet
In 2023, Kmet saw 15 red zone targets and converted six of them into touchdowns. In 2024? Just eight. And not surprisingly, the touchdown total dropped to four. He didn’t forget how to catch in tight spaces. He just wasn’t given the shot. Johnson, on the other hand, schemes red zone plays like he’s writing love letters to tight ends.
Expect that number to climb, hard. If Kmet gets even 12-14 red zone looks, six-to-eight scores is easily in reach. And in fantasy and real football, touchdowns matter more than your grandma’s pot roast at Thanksgiving.
Blocking, Durability, and Other Things Stats Don’t Always Capture
One of the biggest reasons Kmet will thrive under Johnson? He doesn’t have to come off the field. Ever. He blocks like a left tackle and runs routes like a big-ass wideout. That’s gold in Johnson’s system, where disguising plays and using motion to screw with coverages is the bread and butter.
Kmet's availability isn’t just "nice to have” — it’s foundational. He’s a rock, and Johnson builds systems around guys like that.
What the Numbers Say About 2025
Let’s go bold. If Johnson does for Kmet what he did for LaPorta, here’s a realistic stat line:
- Receptions: 70-80
- Yards: 700-850
- Touchdowns: 6-9
- Targets: 90-100
That’s TE1 territory in fantasy and an absolute win for the Bears. It would put him back among the Kelces, Andrews, and Bowers of the world — and it wouldn’t be a fluke.
He is The Only Thing in His Way
Let’s be clear: If Kmet underperforms again in 2025, it will be on him. It won’t be because the Bears failed — again—to run a real offense. And with Ben Johnson pulling the strings and Caleb Williams growing into the role, there’s every reason to believe Kmet is in for a resurgence.
Johnson’s track record with tight ends isn’t hype — it’s hard proof. His schemes produce results, even with lesser talent. With Kmet? He’s got a tank with soft hands and a chip on his shoulder. If Johnson knows what he’s doing (and he does)...
Kmet’s about to feast.
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