Cole Kmet Shocked By Bears’ 1st Round Pick But Now Understands The Vision

by James Van WicklerJune 17, 2025, 1:39 amNews >

The Chicago Bears’ decision to draft tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April elicited a strong reaction from one member of the team.

Cole Kmet has been playing tight end for the Bears since the 2020 season. He signed a long-term extension with the team ahead of the 2023 season, so it’s natural that he was “taken aback” by a new addition to the tight end room.

Kmet said conversations with the team told him that “there’s going to be areas where we complement each other” and that the goal is to have the best tight end tandem in the NFL, which got the Bears’ tight end on board.

“You’re just understanding their vision and their expectations for you as a player,” Kmet said, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s hard to come into work every day when you don’t know your set expectations. I think having those conversations kind of cleared the air a little bit. … I think the goal with it is to become the best 12 (personnel) tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there.”

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New Bears coach Ben Johnson has evidence to back such a decision. When Johnson was the offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions, his offense ran the third-most plays out of 12 personnel in the entire NFL (361 total plays), posted a success rate of 47.9 percent, averaged a gain of 6.2 yards per play and logged 59 explosive plays in 2024. The Lions led the NFL in touchdowns scored (29) out of 12 personnel, providing Johnson’s new employers with proof that it can work.

If everything goes according to plan, the Bears’ offense will prove to be as explosive as the Lions’ was at its best, at least eventually. That will require players like Kmet to buy in completely.

If the partnership doesn’t pan out, the Bears can part ways with Kmet after the season without serious cap ramifications.