NFL insiders have linked the Pittsburgh Steelers to tight ends Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts this offseason. This week, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin included another tight end on his list of potential Steelers offseason acquisitions — Chicago Bears’ Cole Kmet.
Benjamin named Kmet on June 9 a potential target that could help quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
“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. “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.”
Chicago drafted Kmet in the second round at No. 43 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He posted 47 catches, 474 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 17 games last season.
Benjamin suggesting Kmet as a target for the Steelers comes as the team has dealt with multiple tight end injuries at offseason workouts.
Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders reported Friday that rookie tight end J.J. Galbreath didn’t participate in minicamp. Saunders wrote Galbreath spent minicamp along the sidelines because of an undisclosed injury.
Why Bears TE Cole Kmet Could Fit With Steelers
Most pundits have connected the Steelers to more high upside tight ends with experience in Arthur Smith’s offensive system. Both Jonnu Smith and Pitts played for Smith with the Atlanta Falcons.
Smith also played for Smith with the Tennessee Titans.
But it might make more sense for the Steelers to add a lower-profiled tight end. The team already has Pat Freiermuth, who was second for Pittsburgh in receiving yards last season. The Steelers also have high hopes for third-year tight end Darnell Washington.
Like Freiermuth, Kmet was second for the Bears in catches and receiving yards during the 2023 season. But last year with Chicago adding a few different playmakers at receiver, Kmet dropped to fourth on the team in both categories.
The Bears kept adding more playmakers to their offense this offseason. In the first two rounds of the 2025 Draft, Chicago selected tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden.
Those playmakers, along with Rome Odunze, could mean Kmet takes even more of a back seat in the Bears offense this fall.
Steelers Rookie TE J.J Galbreath Dealing With Injury
While pundits have linked the Steelers to tight ends because their offense could use another playmaker, Pittsburgh could use another tight end simply for depth.
In addition to Galbreath being sidelined at minicamp, the Steelers lost veteran tight end Donald Parham Jr. to a season-ending injury during offseason workouts.
That has left Freiermuth and Washington as the only healthy primary tight ends on the roster. Connor Heyward is also on the team, but Heyward plays a hybrid tight end/full back role.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Thursday that the team didn’t have any injuries that would interrupt the training camp plans.
It’s unclear if Tomlin was suggesting with that answer that Galbreath will be back from his undisclosed injury next month or if the undrafted rookie isn’t expected to have a big role at training camp anyway.
