The Chicago Bears have blasted past expectations this season. They currently sit atop the NFC North with a 9-3 record, and they appear potentially poised to secure their first playoff berth since 2020. So, Bears fans aren’t really focusing on the future right now. They’re living in the moment.
But, Chicago will have some difficult decisions to make over the offseason, regardless of how their current campaign ends. One decision they’ll have to make is what to do with veteran tight end Cole Kmet.
Cole Kmet listed as surprise cut candidate by ESPN
Kmet has been a productive player for Chicago for a long time, but the Bears have a better, younger player at the position in Colston Loveland and they could free up some cap space by cutting ties with Kmet. For those reasons, he was listed as a surprise cut candidate by Dan Graziano of ESPN.
“Kmet is signed for two more years at $10 million per year, but none of that money is guaranteed,” Graziano wrote. “The dead money hit if Chicago cut him would be just $3.2 million. … Kmet has been a useful and reliable part of the Bears' offense and could certainly continue to coexist with Loveland in 2026 and beyond. He has 231 yards and two scores on the season. But if Chicago is looking for a place to find some cap relief next spring, Kmet's contract could be vulnerable.”
Kmet’s production has dropped this season due to the addition of Loveland. He’s averaging just 1.8 receptions and 21.0 yards per game – those numbers are the lowest they’ve been since his rookie season in 2020.
In theory, the Bears could also try to trade Kmet, as opposed to cutting him in order to try to recoup some value. Or, they could simply decide that he's a valuable piece and that they want to hang onto him until the end of his current contract, which expires after the 2027 season.
The way the current campaign ends could factor into the decision. If Kmet plays an important role down the stretch maybe he could cement his spot. If not, perhaps he'll be deemed replaceable. Either way, it's something to keep an eye on.