Getty
We look at the latest on the Cole Kmet Steelers trade rumors and what his future with the Bears could look like.
The Cole Kmet trade talk just refuses to subside.
The Chicago Bears signed Kmet to a four-year, $50 million contract extension in 2023, but many analysts seem to think that the addition of new head coach Ben Johnson coupled with the selection of tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick make Kmet expendable.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports listed five players who could be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers to “help” quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense, and Kmet’s name was among them.
“The Bears all but proclaimed a new face of their tight end position by spending a first-round pick on Colston Loveland this year, and while Kmet still has the benefit of legitimate NFL experience, it’s very possible new coach Ben Johnson will lean all the way into Loveland out of the gate,” Benjamin wrote on June 9, adding:
“In that case, perhaps the Steelers would be interested in pairing Kmet with Pat Freiermuth, especially if the price is lower than, say, acquiring Kyle Pitts from the Atlanta Falcons. Kmet logged at least 50 catches in three straight seasons from 2021-2023.”
Ben Johnson’s Offense Requires 2 TE Sets
GettyChicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet has been the subject of trade rumors.
Here’s the thing about Kmet: he’s essential to what new head coach Ben Johnson wants to do on offense. Johnson’s scheme has long leaned on the versatility and deception provided by 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends), and that philosophy is going to become central to the Bears new identity.
During his time as offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions, Johnson was the king of multi-tight-end sets, using them to create mismatches, bolster the run game and open up the play-action game.
Now in Chicago, he’s looking to replicate that success—and the Bears’ decision to draft tight end Loveland is a strong indication of that vision. Loveland was widely viewed as one of the top tight end prospects in the class, and his selection sent a clear signal that Johnson intends to build around 12 personnel packages.
If all goes to plan, Loveland and Kmet should form a young and versatile tight end duo capable of stretching defenses both vertically and horizontally.
The Chicago Bears Likely Won’t Trade TE Cole Kmet
Despite early-season chatter, it seems pretty clear that Kmet remains integral to Chicago’s 2025 plans. Without him, the 12 personnel packages that Johnson wants to run would lose their functionality.
Kmet’s durability and consistent production also make him an invaluable asset to Chicago’s offense. Since entering the league in 2020, he’s started all 84 of the team’s regular season games, amassing 258 catches, 2,592 yards and 19 touchdowns. He’s never missed a game and has surpassed 450 receiving yards in four straight seasons.
Aaron Rodgers was a thorn in the Bears’ side for over a decade with the rival Green Bay Packers, and while that won’t affect any trade negotiations, it sure wouldn’t sit right with Bears Nation to see a fan favorite like Kmet catching passes from him.
While it’s true Kmet carries a solid cap hit— a post-June 1 trade could save the Bears about $10 million—trading away your veteran TE would be outright disruptive. Chicago needs him heading into the season, and without an external push (which hasn’t materialized yet), there’s little reason to move him.
