The Chicago Bears have been linked to tight ends in the 2020 NFL Draft since the process began. And that was long before the release of Trey Burton and the acquisition of Jimmy Graham.
Still, many have the Bears pegged for a tight end in this draft, especially after the release of Burton. And while the Bears should definitely consider bringing a tight end in, there’s no one in this tight end class worth using a second-round pick on.
But, if there were one, the consensus is that it would be Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet, who is arguably the most NFL ready prospect in a weak tight end class.
So it’s no wonder why Chicago has shown interest in Kmet, who has also expressed his desire to play for the hometown Bears. According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Adam Hoge, Kmet has met with the Bears virtually during the pre-draft process.
Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet did not make it to Halas Hall before everything got shut down, but he has talked to the #Bears over Zoom. The Lake Barrington native was a big fan of Greg Olsen when he was with the Bears. You'll hear from Kmet today on The Hoge & Jahns Podcast.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) April 21, 2020
Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Kmet in his evaluation:
Long bodied, early entry Y tight end prospect who is a better pass threat than run blocker at this stage. Kmet should continue to fill out his frame, but his run blocking is too scattered and needs better focus and efficiency as a pro. He can be jammed and slowed by early contact into his route, but once he’s striding, he becomes a legitimate second-level threat with sneaky separation speed and intriguing ball skills. He’s still developing and could be a slow starter headed into the league, but he has the talent to eventually become a solid starter as a pass-catching in-line tight end with the ability to mismatch from the slot with his size.
Kmet is widely considered the best prospect at his position in a weak class of tight ends. In 2019, Kmet had 43 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns, but he projects to be better in the pros.
Kmet can be a weapon in the passing game and in-line as a blocker for a team desperate for production at the tight end position. He’d figure to replace the disappointing Adam Shaheen, who is reportedly on the trade block.
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