(670 The Score) The Bears have touted tight end Cole Kmet as one of the best players in the league at his position, but they didn't utilize him as such in 2024.
Kmet's limited production was a subplot in the Bears' disappointing 2024 season, and it's new head coach Ben Johnson's objective to fix that as the team moves into the 2025 season.
Here’s a look at where the Bears stand at tight end heading into this offseason.
Editor's note: This is the latest installment of our Bears offseason outlook series. You can read the previous breakdowns by clicking the links below.
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Who’s back: Cole Kmet (26), Gerald Everett (31), Jordan Murray (25), Joel Wilson (25)
Free agents: Marcedes Lewis (40)
It’s reasonable to believe that Kmet can be a dynamic threat under Johnson's watch.
Kmet had 73 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. He then had just 47 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, when he had one or fewer targets in six of the 17 games he played. Kmet wasn’t prioritized in the Bears’ offense, which was led by two different play-callers.
With Johnson calling plays in Detroit, Lions tight end Sam LaPorta posted 146 receptions for 1,615 yards and 15 touchdowns across the past two seasons.
The Bears need to make Kmet more of a focal point in their offense. If used correctly, he’s a reliable third target behind top wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
Kmet wasn’t the only Bears tight end who was underutilized last season. Everett had just eight catches for 36 yards in 2024, his first season of a two-year deal. Lewis had one catch for two yards.
Lewis has indicated he hopes to play a 20th NFL season in 2025, but he may prefer to go elsewhere after two challenging years in Chicago.
What’s next?
The Bears don’t need a new tight end – they must turn to the one they already have in Kmet.
But then comes an evaluation of the rest of the tight end position. The Bears must evaluated whether Everett can be that secondary option they hoped, assessing his play beyond the simple lack of usage. The Bears would take on just $1 million in dead cap by releasing Everett.
However, there aren’t many viable replacements on the open market. Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 100 free agents available includes just four tight ends.
The Bears could seek a complementary tight end in the NFL Draft, seeking to deepen their personnel on offense with a stronger pairing for Kmet. Of course, that would be an objective for deeper in this draft.
Perhaps it’s notable that the Bears’ lone position coach returning is tight ends coach Jim Dray, who was retained to Johnson’s staff. It’s a sign that Johnson believes in that unit despite the lack of production last season.
Prediction: Kmet will set new career-highs across the board
Johnson has been a tight ends coach at three stops: Boston College, the Dolphins and the Lions. He knows how to utilize the position, and that was evident in his work as Detroit's offensive coordinator.
Johnson will certainly find that Kmet needs the football thrown his way. That should all change in 2025.
Kmet will set new career-high marks in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns this season. His current bests in a single season are 73 catches in 2023, 719 receiving yards in 2023 and seven receiving touchdowns in 2022.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.