Heavy Favorite Is Emerging For Chicago Bears Contract Extension

Before he can get started on free agency proper, GM Ryan Poles has some decisions to make regarding the Chicago Bears roster. Several in-house players have contract situations that need addressing. Some are pending free agents, while others enter the final year of their rookie deals. Poles has said he wants to make a more concerted effort to develop and pay their own players. This will be his first opportunity to do so. What nobody knows is who will be the top priority in talks.

Adam Jahns of The Athletic discussed the topic in his latest column. While a few players could get new deals, like Jaylon Johnson and Darnell Mooney, there is one name that figures to be the first domino to drop, based on what Poles has said and what Jahns is hearing.

1. Cole Kmet, TE

Asked whether the Bears had any blue-chip players, one player immediately came to mind for Poles: Kmet. He improved that much in his third season but also his first with Poles, coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

“I thought he elevated his game from the film that I watched last year to what it was this year,” Poles said. “So that’s exciting.”

It also makes Kmet the most likely to receive an extension this offseason. Poles does believe in rewarding the Bears’ own, though he didn’t draft Kmet, the 43rd pick in 2020.

This isn't a shock at all.

Of every player from the 2020 draft class aiming for an extension, the only one to actually improve this past year was Kmet. After going for 612 yards and zero TDs in 2021, he delivered 544 yards and seven scores this season. That was despite only being targeted 69 times compared to 93 the year prior. If that had remained the same, he'd have finished with 788 yards and nine touchdowns.

Cole Kmet is finally justifying the pick to get him.

People scrutinized that selection endlessly after it happened. Time has shown that for all his faults, former GM Ryan Pace ended up landing a solid player. Kmet might not be a Rob Gronkowski or a Travis Kelce, but he is a legitimate NFL starter who can help an offense succeed. Landing somebody like that in the 2nd round will always be a win for the organization. The only thing left to determine is how much it will take to keep him around. As a hometown kid and Bears fanatic, getting something done shouldn't be a huge issue.

Initial predictions from cap-savvy experts suggest Cole Kmet is looking at something in the vicinity of $12 million per year. That would put him between Zach Ertz ($10.55 million) and Hunter Henry ($12.5 million). With such a deal, he would be the 10th-highest-paid tight end in the league. That isn't too bad. Remember, Kmet is still only 23 years old. He is just now entering his physical prime. His connection with Justin Fields is strong, and this offense knows how to take advantage of his skills. This deal should get done.