Cole Kmet has been one of the better players the Chicago Bears have drafted in the past decade. His steadiness, versatility, and locker room presence were big reasons the team locked him up to a contract extension. There haven't been any indications that the organization is dissatisfied with him. Sure, his 2024 season was disappointing with just 474 yards and four touchdowns. However, much of that came from a crappy offensive system mixed with a rookie quarterback.
Kmet just turned 26 years old. He's in his physical prime and remains under contract at a reasonable price. There is no reason to think the tight end is on the outs with the team. However, one person isn't so sure of that. Kurt Benkert is a former quarterback who played in the NFL for six seasons. He now covers the league for Bleacher Report. He covered his list of players he thinks will be cut or traded in the next few months. Right at the top of it was Kmet. His reasons had multiple points.
This Cole Kmet take is illogical for multiple reasons.
Let's start with the money. Benkert is assuming that the Bears are starved for cap space. This is not true. As of writing this, they have just over $14.7 million to work with. That is more than enough to secure their draft class and make any minor moves necessary during the upcoming season. Unloading a proven player like Cole Kmet for what would amount to $100,000 in cap space for cutting him is nonsensical. A trade is the only option. That would free up $10 million and bring back a draft pick in return. Outside of that scenario, nothing about this prediction makes sense. Kmet is still a good player. There is no reason to think he and rookie Colston Loveland can't coexist in the same offense. The only way something like this happens is if Kmet himself pushes for it.
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