One of the hardest things to do for an NFL GM is finding capable starters outside of the 1st round. Ryan Pace has faced this challenge for the past two years. He did okay in 2019 with the acquisition of David Montgomery in the 3rd round. Coming into 2020, he'd have two opportunities to get his team some help. Both in the 2nd round. His first of the two picks was easily the most divisive, grabbing Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet.
By and large, most draft experts have said the tight end class this year is weak. Kmet was pretty much the consensus #1 option but some felt the Bears could've waited a little longer before taking him. There were other higher-graded players on the board. Pace didn't seem to agree. Feeling the kid was everything the team was missing at the position, he pulled the trigger.
It seems those inside the scouting community agree. Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog has a few connections to evaluators around the league. One NFC scout told him in no uncertain terms that Chicago got themselves a damn good football player.
“He’s tough. He’s smart. He has great hands. He will be a good player for ten years.”
Cole Kmet is a great story who is committed to succeed
It's hard not to love the Kmet pick if only for the story. He's a Lake Barrington native who grew up in Arlington Heights. His favorite players growing up were Brian Urlacher and Greg Olsen (before he was traded). The guy grew up a Bears fan. So to be selected by his hometown team? That was a dream come true. One he intends to see blossom into a productive NFL career.
Expectations are high for him. Most draft experts love his upside. Kmet is only 21-years old and spent his college career dividing his attention between football and baseball. Now that he's 100% focused on football, the odds are good that he will take a considerable step forward. At 6'6, 262 lbs he presents a big, inviting catch radius. His 515 yards and six touchdowns may not look like much from last season, but he was actually the second-leading receiver on his team.
Put him in an offense like Matt Nagy's, one designed to feature tight ends? The sky truly is the limit.
