Tag: Bears tight end

Bears TE Cole Kmet ready to show everyone what he can do as a rookie

Cole Kmet has been praised by Matt Nagy for how quickly he’s grasped the playbook as a rookie, and Kmet feels confident heading into camp.

This offseason has been unlike any other in NFL history, where players and coaches have had to work from home through virtual meetings and independent workouts.

For rookies like Chicago’s top draft pick tight end Cole Kmet, it’s been difficult not to get that time during minicamps and organized team activities (OTAs) at Halas Hall to learn the offense.

And while this offseason has been completely virtual, Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has been organizing workouts with teammates in the Chicago area, where they’ve been working on routes, continuing to build that chemistry and staying in shape.

Kmet has been among a handful of players at these workouts, which have also included receiver Allen Robinson, running backs David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen, as well as fellow tight end Demetrius Harris.

Kmet appeared on a Facebook Live with former Bear Chris Zorich, where they discussed his journey navigating football and baseball from the high school level to his time at Notre Dame to being the Bears’ top draft pick this year.

The Bears’ second-round pick has been trying to keep in shape and learn the playbook as quickly as he can without the benefit of on-field practices at Halas Hall. He’s been praised by Matt Nagy for how quickly he’s grasped the playbook as a rookie, and Kmet feels confident heading into camp.

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“Just kind of working out with some of the guys in the area right now,” Kmet said. “Running routes and that type of stuff and kind of staying in shape that way. We’ve been putting in the work. I’m excited to get getting going on the field with these guys and show them what I can do as a rookie coming in. I’m just going to continue to study up on that playbook, and when camp rolls around, I’m going to be ready to go.”

They also discussed training camp, which is coming up next month. Kmet said the current report date is July 21, which figures to be for rookies. Rookies typically report a few days earlier than veterans, but with the lack of an on-field offseason, perhaps veterans will be allowed back, as well.

Obviously, all of this depends on what the NFL chooses to do. It’s a tentative schedule, but Kmet feels confident that it’s going to happen.

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Bears still have plans for TE Adam Shaheen in this offense

Adam Shaheen’s time in Chicago seems all but finished at this point, but he still has a believer in new TE coach Clancy Barone.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has had his share of disappointing draft picks, but former second-round pick Adam Shaheen might be one of his biggest misses. And, where it stands, Shaheen’s time in Chicago seems all but finished at this point.

In three seasons, Shaheen has just 26 catches for 249 yards and four touchdowns in 27 games. He’s failed to live up to his second-round billing and injuries have hindered his development on the field. He’s missed 21 games over the last three seasons due to injury.

Following a brutal collective outing by their tight ends last season, Chicago has overhauled the tight ends room with new faces like Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet and Demetrius Harris, which doesn’t bode well for Shaheen.

But Shaheen still has at least on believer in new tight ends coach Clancy Barone, who told reporters that the Bears have plans for him in this offense.

But we’ve been here before, with several players. Hoping this is the year that they finally turn things around. As far as Shaheen is concerned, his biggest challenge will be a crowded tight ends room.

It’s not exactly a shock that Shaheen will still be on the roster heading into training camp, considering his cap hit is relatively low on the final year of his rookie deal. What would be a shock is if Shaheen made the 53-man roster.

Ultimately, when it comes down to it, Shaheen figures to find himself on the outside looking in. Kmet and Harris will likely be the two Y tight ends, which would spell the end of Shaheen’s tenure in Chicago.

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Bears TE Demetrius Harris hits the training room and the field

The Bears ended their offseason program early so that players could continue to train on their own ahead of training camp, including Harris.

In February, the Chicago Bears signed former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns tight end Demetrius Harris to a one-year, $1.6 million contract.

Harris came into the league as an undrafted free agent after playing basketball at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His first four years in the NFL were with the Chiefs, who employed Matt Nagy as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Harris would sign with the Browns in 2019 on a two-year deal before being released on Feb. 17.

Two days later, Harris reunited with Nagy. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder is coming off a season with the Browns where he recorded 15 receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Throughout his six-year career, Harris has recorded 72 catches, 754 yards, and nine touchdowns.

Many Bears players have continued to work out, just as Nagy wanted since they ended the virtual offseason early. Harris is another Bears player putting in the work, but instead of lifting weights, his trainer Dr. Michael Tal Risher wants to prevent injuries and train decision making.

“The Bosu ball is training the ankle stability,” Dr. Rishner said. “It’s excellent for injury prevention because the muscles in his ankle need to stabilize with changing demands. The HECOstix train catching, but more importantly, they train decision making.”

Harris is also putting in the work on the field. Not only has he been among a handful of offensive players working out with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, today Harris was seen with wide receiver Allen Robinson on Robinson’s Instagram story saying, “Putting in that work in, Bearsnation get ready.”

It’s a crowded room among the tight ends for Harris with newly signed Jimmy Graham, rookie Cole Kmet and Adam Shaheen, but the 28-year old is staying active for his first year with the Bears and is ready to play for Nagy again.

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Bears free up cap space as Trey Burton’s post-June 1 cut goes into effect

The Bears have gained $2.8 million in salary cap space now that Trey Burton’s post-June 1 designation has gone into effect.

Heading into the 2020 offseason, the Chicago Bears were strapped with limited salary cap space. Which forced them to part ways with cornerback Prince Amukamara and receiver Taylor Gabriel this offseason.

Still, the Bears were able to make some moves in free agency, with the additions of pass rusher Robert Quinn and tight end Jimmy Graham. Chicago also traded for quarterback Nick Foles, which after a restructured contract hasn’t left the Bears in a hole.

Following a disappointing 2019 season marred by injury, the Bears parted ways with tight end Trey Burton. Not because of salary cap reasons — in fact, Burton will cost Chicago $5.75 million in dead money — rather his ineffectiveness at the tight end position.

When the Bears announced they were releasing Burton, they designated him as a post-June 1 cut, which means that they’ll gain roughly $2.8 million in cap space as of June 2.

Here’s what Over The Cap had to say about Burton’s designation:

The Bears dropped Trey Burton despite a $4 million salary guarantee on a $6.8 million salary but a glut of tight ends made him expendable. Burton had counted at $8.55 million but the team will only pick up $2.8 million in cap space since his dead money, even with the June 1, is $5.75 million. The Bears will have a $1.75 million cap charge next season for Burton but should receive a $910,000 credit if Burton makes the Colts this season. The Bears will now have around $11 million in cap room in 2020 which should be enough for them to function during the season.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace is banking on Graham and second-round rookie Cole Kmet to reignite Chicago’s tight end group in 2020. Considering the Bears’ offense was among the worst in the NFL last season, there’s nowhere to go but up. Especially after Bears tight ends combined for 36 receptions, 416 receiving yards and just 2 touchdowns.

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Cole Kmet cried when Bears lost Super Bowl in 2006

Growing up a Bears fan, Chicago’s new TE Cole Kmet knows the pain that comes with this franchise, including the Super Bowl XLI loss in 2006.

Growing up a Chicago Bears fan, tight end Cole Kmet certainly knows the pain and disappointment that has come with this franchise for the last few decades.

Their last shining moment was an impressive 2006 season that culminated with a Super Bowl appearance — their first since the legendary 1985 season — but it ultimately ended in disappointment. The Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 followed by — what else — a disappointing offensive showing.

While Kmet was just eight years old at the time, he remembers his reaction to the Super Bowl loss. And it might’ve been similar to that of many Bears fans — he cried.

It’s been 13 years since that Super Bowl appearance, and Chicago has made the playoffs just twice since. More frustration for a franchise that has 100 years of history — both good and bad.

As someone that never got to see the 1985 Bears win a Super Bowl, I can’t help but wonder if that 2006 team was as close as I’ll get to seeing them win it all. For Kmet, he has a chance to do something about it — to contribute to this offense in a way that they were severely lacking last season.

The truth is, you don’t know if you’ll ever make it back to that championship stage. The 2007 Bears certainly didn’t achieve the same heights that the 2006 squad did, due to poor quarterback play they couldn’t overcome. The 2009 Bears could say the same following a magical season in 2018, where they fell a missed field goal short of advancing in what could’ve been a special postseason run.

It’s something that the 2020 Bears are looking to rewrite the narrative on — that the chance for achieving greatness does come again. And Kmet will certainly have a say, as the life-long Bears fan gets to play tight end for his hometown Bears. Hopefully the next time he’s crying at a Super Bowl, it’ll be because the Bears won a Super Bowl. Hey, a Bears fan can dream, right?

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B/R says these 2 decisions by Bears were among the worst this offseason

The Chicago Bears have spent the offseason overhauling their offense following a disappointing 2019 season. They’ve addressed two of the offense’s biggest concerns in quarterback and tight end, as well as brought in some new coaches to help right …

The Chicago Bears have spent the offseason overhauling their offense following a disappointing 2019 season. They’ve addressed two of the offense’s biggest concerns in quarterback and tight end, as well as brought in some new coaches to help right the ship.

But Bleacher Report believes that the Bears made two of the worst moves this offseason — both on offense — with the signing of tight end Jimmy Graham and trading for quarterback Nick Foles.

There was a ton of criticism following Chicago’s decision to sign Graham in free agency, so it wasn’t a surprise to find the Graham signing on this list at No. 9.

B/R cited Graham’s contract — he has the seventh-highest annual salary among tight ends, per Spotrac — as the main criticism for this move.

Not only did they give him a lucrative contract, but they also threw in a no-trade clause for good measure, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Further confounding this deal is the fact that the Bears used their first pick on Cole Kmet (second round, No. 43). Rookie tight ends find it notoriously difficult to produce as rookies, but it’s still another large investment the organization is making in a position that rarely sees this much commitment.

It’s not a franchise-breaker since it’s only a two-year deal, but it’s a head-scratcher nonetheless.

But perhaps most surprising is the fact that the trade for Foles landed at No. 2 on B/R’s list of worst offseason moves. This move ranked just behind the Houston Texans trading star receiver DeAndre Hopkins for chump change.

B/R cited Foles’ hefty guaranteed money — $21 million of his restructured three-year, $24 million deal is guaranteed — as reason for concern. They took it a step further comparing Foles to the likes of Jameis Winston and Cam Newton, both that were available before they signed Foles.

It isn’t the money that makes this a bad deal, though. It’s the opportunity cost. This pact only looked worse as the offseason played out. Jameis Winston agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract that makes him an affordable backup. Cam Newton is on the market. 

Foles went 0-4 as a starter in 2019. He broke his clavicle in Week 1 before coming back to start three late-season games and lost his job to sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew.

For the most part, the Foles’ trade has been met with as much praise as criticism. But, ultimately, the Bears identified the quarterback they wanted — one with experience in this Matt Nagy-like offense — that they feel can not only provide stability at quarterback but compete for the starting job in what’s likely to be a shortened offseason amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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SI believes Bears TE Cole Kmet poised for breakout rookie season

Conor Orr believes Bears TE Cole Kmet is one of several rookies poised to make an immediate impact on their team.

The Chicago Bears didn’t have a first-round draft selection for the second straight year, but you could argue that they got a couple of first-round talents in Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet and Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

While many have hailed general manager Ryan Pace’s selection of Johnson, there are many that haven’t been as high on the Bears’ drafting Kmet in the second round when there were other needs.

But there are some that believe that Kmet, arguably the most NFL-ready tight end in this draft class, will make an impact in his rookie season. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr believes that Kmet is one of several rookies poised to have an immediate impact on their team.

Kmet is one of approximately 1,100 tight ends on the Bears’ roster right now but shouldn’t have a difficult time working his way into a regular timeshare with Jimmy Graham. The Bears utilized two tight-end formations frequently on certain downs (it was their third-most utilized personnel grouping on first-and-10, for example) and he’s wonderfully improvisational inside the goal line. That will be rewarded, especially if the more mobile Mitchell Trubisky wins the job out of camp.

Don’t mistake the influx of tight ends on Chicago’s roster for them having plenty of options at the position. When you have 10 tight ends on your team, you have them for a reason — because you don’t know exactly what you’ve got.

But, ultimately, Chicago knows which directions its headed with tight ends in 2020 — and it doesn’t include some of the familiar, unsuccessful faces from the past. The Bears have overhauled the tight ends room this offseason with addition of Jimmy Graham, who replaced Trey Burton, as well as added Kmet and Demetrius Harris, who will serve as “Y” tight ends in Matt Nagy’s offense.

While Kmet won’t be the “U” or move tight end that Graham will occupy, Nagy will certainly finds ways to utilize Kmet’s size and pass-catching ability to the offense’s advantage.

Kmet can certainly make an immediate impact on the Bears in his rookie season — if all goes right

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WATCH: Chicago community congratulates new Bears TE Cole Kmet in drive-by parade

There’s been a ton of excitement with TE Cole Kmet being drafted by his hometown Bears with the 43rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

There’s been a ton of excitement with tight end Cole Kmet being drafted by his hometown Chicago Bears with the 43rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Following footage of an emotional reaction as Kmet and family learned he was being selected by the Bears, the Lake Barrington community outside of Chicago decided to share their congratulations for the former Notre Dame tight end, who’s staying local for his NFL career.

Check out this video of a drive-by parade, where locals were driving by in their cars honking, cheering and even handing out flowers to the Kmet family. According to Tom Loy, the parade lasted 45 minutes straight, and there’s a lot of love shared for Chicago’s top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Bears got the best tight end in the NFL Draft with Kmet, who has the ability to contribute as a blocker and as a threat in the passing game. For a Bears team desperate for production at the tight end position, look for Kmet to be a big part of this offense.

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Grading the Bears’ selection of TE Cole Kmet

The Bears selected TE Cole Kmet with their first selection in the 2nd round. How does he grade out?

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The Chicago Bears have made no attempt to hide their attempts to fix the tight end position. And they used their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to do so with the selection of Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet with the 50th overall pick.

When grading this pick, it’s important to look at the player — not just the frustrations that come with drafting a tight end in the second round. While there were other prospects still on the board at areas of need for Chicago, the Bears did address an offensive need. The Bears might’ve had nine tight ends on their roster, but other than Jimmy Graham, they’re not on the same level.

Simply put, Kmet is the best tight end in this draft class. Probably the only tight end worthy of a first or second-round selection. And the Bears got him.

Kmet is a big tight end that has the ability to block and be a threat in the passing game. While Matt Nagy’s scheme utilizes the move tight end, expect Kmet to be a big part of what this Bears offense does.

The Bears have got their starting move and in-line tight ends with Graham and Kmet, and the hope is that they’ll be able to breathe life into a position that desperately needs production.

While Kmet is far from a finished product — he needs to become a stronger blocker — he has a ton of upside and will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the Bears.

Grade: B

What do you think, Bears fans? How would you grade Chicago’s selection of Kmet?

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2020 NFL Draft: Bears addressed two needs on offense, defense in 2nd round

The Bears might not have had a first-round pick, but they managed to snag two first-round talents in the second round.

The Chicago Bears might not have had a first-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they managed to snag two first-round talents in the second round.

While many will criticize the selection of tight end Cole Kmet in the second round, the Bears ultimately got the best tight end prospect in this draft class. Kmet is easily the most NFL-ready tight end in a weak class, and now he’ll get to play for his hometown Bears.

Kmet will assume the in-line tight end role, where he’ll help block in the run game and serve as a pass-catching weapon in Matt Nagy’s offense, for whichever quarterback lines up under center.

Following the addition of Jimmy Graham in free agency, Bears general manager Ryan Pace is banking on Kmet and Graham to right the fallacies of Chicago’s tight end group.

The Bears also addressed a need in the defensive backfield at cornerback with the selection of Utah’s Jaylon Johnson, who can be plugged in as an immediate starter.

Following the release of Prince Amukamara, the Bears have filled the hole at right cornerback opposite Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller. Johnson is a physical corner that will challenge receivers

While the Bears have three other cornerbacks on their roster that were vying for the starting spot — Kevin Toliver, Tre Roberson and Artie Burns — Johnson figures to have the clear upper hand in the competition for the starting job.

Chicago doesn’t have another pick until Day 3, where they’ll have five draft selections barring any trades. The Bears have one pick in the fifth round at No. 163, as well as two selections in the sixth round (No. 196, No. 200 ) and seventh round (No. 226, No. 233).

Heading into Day 3, the Bears still have roster needs at safety, offensive line, wide receiver, running back and quarterback. Pace is known for drafting some late-round gems, which will certainly be the hope for Saturday’s selections.

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