ESPN insider: Chicago Bears could cut ties with $50 million starter in offseason

Mike Moraitis

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ESPN insider: Chicago Bears could cut ties with $50 million starter in offseason image

Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen (L), general manager Ryan Poles (C) and head coach Ben Johnson (R) observe during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears will have a decision to make with tight end Cole Kmet in 2026.

Kmet's $50 million contract runs through 2027, but he is a clear cut candidate.

Not only has Kmet's production fallen off a cliff since his career year in 2023, the Bears also spent a top-10 pick on tight end Colston Loveland in 2025.

In an article naming 10 players who could be on the move in 2026, ESPN's Dan Graziano agrees that Kmet might be playing elsewhere next year.

The Bears used the 10th pick in the draft on tight end Colston Loveland, who has become a bigger part of the offense as his rookie year has progressed. Kmet is signed for two more years at $10 million per year, but none of that money is guaranteed. 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.

The Bears are sitting with a projected $1.2 million in cap space next offseason, per Over the Cap, so they're going to be looking for any way to add to that so they can continue pushing this thing forward after an upstart 2025 campaign.

Cutting Kmet would add a sizeable chunk of change for the Bears, who would only incur a dead-cap charge of $3.2 million while saving $8.4 million with a pre-June 1 release.

That savings goes up to $10 million and the dead-cap charge drops to $1.6 million if Kmet is released with a post-June 1 designation.

With Loveland showing clear signs of progress as the year has progressed, he should be more than ready to step into a bigger role in 2026.

Knowing that, and with the Bears' need for more cap space, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Kmet won't be in Chicago next year.

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Contributing Writer