Putting an End to This Ridiculous Bears’ Trade Rumors

Despite a surge in trade rumors surrounding tight end Cole Kmet this offseason, it’s clear the Chicago Bears have no interest in moving on from their dependable pass-catcher. Much of the speculation emerged after the team selected Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, with some around the league assuming Loveland’s arrival could make Kmet expendable.

Why the Chicago Bears Won’t Trade Cole Kmet

GettyCole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears catching a pass during OTA offseason workouts.

Media outlets such as Bleacher Report and Clutch Points listed Kmet as a possible trade target for the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and New York Jets, noting that Kmet’s trade would free up over $10 million in cap space. While that may sound enticing for the Bears, the reality is quite different in Chicago.

First-year head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive system relies heavily on the use of two-tight-end formations (12 personnel). In fact, when Johnson was the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator last season, the Lions used 12 personnel 32.2% of the time last season, which was third in the NFL. It’s the whole reason why the Bears drafted Loveland in the first place.

With Loveland profiling as a move tight end who can stretch the field and create mismatches, Kmet’s value as an in-line blocker and reliable target across the middle is only amplified. The Bears didn’t draft Loveland to replace Kmet; they drafted him to complement him.

A lot of people also forget that the Lions traded star tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, which severely hurt Johnson’s offense in Detroit that season before the arrival of Sam LaPorta. He likely won’t let that happen again by letting the team trade away Kmet.

Kmet’s Fit in the Bears’ New-Look Offense

The pairing of Kmet and Loveland is more of a strategic fit than an overlap. Kmet’s red zone production and short-yardage efficiency, combined with Loveland’s explosiveness and vertical ability, will create opportunities not just for themselves but for the rest of the offense to thrive.

Financially, the Bears aren’t under any pressure to deal him either. Kmet’s four-year, $5o million contract extension he signed in 2023 is team-friendly, which is currently outside the top five highest-paid TEs at seventh. Plus, there’s no guarantee Loveland will develop into a premier tight end. Moving Kmet now would force the Bears to rely on an unproven asset in a scheme that hinges on having more than just one reliable option at tight end.

There’s also a matter of chemistry. Kmet has become a respected leader in the locker room and one of the most consistent offensive players on the roster. And instead of being salty about the Bears drafting Loveland, he’s embraced it.

“Getting to know Colston has been great so far and I want to give him as much knowledge as I can,” Kmet emphasized in a Bears’ press conference. “Give him all the things that I’ve learned and get him up to pace as soon as quickly as possible so that he can go out there and be the best football player that he can be this year and going forward. I’m excited about that and it’s been awesome getting to know him here these past few weeks since he’s been drafted. I think he’s going to fit just fine in our room and in the offense as well.” It’s worth remembering that Kmet was one of the few bright spots during some of the franchise’s darkest offensive stretches in recent years.

It’s a Yin and Yang situation in Chicago, and Kmet and Loveland having each other is only going to make them better.