The Chicago Bears are once again at the center of a controversial tight end trade rumor. This time it involves Cole Kmet, one of the team’s most consistent offensive weapons. With the selection of Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, speculation is swirling about whether Kmet could be on the move.
For Bears fans, this story feels all too familiar. The Greg Olsen trade from 2011 still haunts the franchise. Could history be repeating itself?
The Bears’ decision to draft Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall shocked many, especially since several analysts believed Tyler Warren out of Penn State was the better prospect. Chicago opted for Loveland’s elite athleticism and mismatch potential. With Loveland quickly turning heads at OTAs, rumors of a Cole Kmet trade have intensified. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots have been floated as possible suitors in a potential Cole Kmet trade.
Should the Bears move on from Kmet now?
After a strong 2023 season with 73 receptions for 719 yards and 6 touchdowns, Kmet’s numbers dropped in 2024. That wasn’t due to a lack of talent, but rather dysfunction within the Bears’ offense.
This mismanagement directly impacted Kmet’s production, but his skill set remains valuable. He’s just 26 years old, under a team-friendly deal, and known for his hands, route running, and red-zone presence.
The tight end trade market is typically undervalued. Even Greg Olsen, who went on to become a Pro Bowl target for Cam Newton, only fetched a third-round pick in 2011.
Kmet, with his age and proven production, might bring in:
Unless a team is willing to overpay, the return likely won’t match Kmet’s value to Chicago.
There’s no pressing reason for the Bears to trade Cole Kmet. In fact, with Colston Loveland, Durham Smythe, and OTA standout Joel Wilson, Chicago has the pieces to run powerful 12-personnel formations.
New head coach Ben Johnson and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle are known for creative and flexible offensive schemes. Johnson used multiple tight ends successfully in Detroit, and Loveland’s athleticism, combined with Kmet’s reliability, could be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Johnson has already signaled his intentions to feature Kmet. “I know he’s going to play a critical role in what we try to do this year,” Johnson said. “We might try to move him around to different spots, from outside the numbers to being attached and everywhere in between. I’m excited to work with him.”
Johnson also praised Kmet’s presence and leadership at minicamp: “He’s a pro, takes his work seriously, positive energy, great teammate… he’s been here the longest… you can tell that they respect him.”
Even Kmet feels confident in the new direction: “It’s like an obsession with the details, and you can feel that from [Johnson]… Whether it’s on the field or in the meeting room, he brings that with him wherever he’s at.”
Why not give this offense a chance to succeed before blowing it up with a Cole Kmet trade?
In 2011, former Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz famously declared he had “no use for a tight end,” leading to the Bears trading Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers for a third-round pick. The move sparked immediate backlash, and for good reason.
Olsen went on to become a three-time Pro Bowler, a top target for Cam Newton, and one of the most productive tight ends of the decade. The Bears, meanwhile, cycled through a string of uninspiring replacements and never quite filled the void Olsen left behind.
Even former Bears general manager Jerry Angelo admitted the trade was a mistake.
“It was a mistake to trade him,” Angelo later said. “I understand he wasn’t the ideal fit in [Mike Martz’s] scheme, but we let our best receiver go…That’s on me.”
Angelo didn’t stop there.
“Obviously it was [Jay] Cutler’s favorite receiver at the time, and we let him out the door…Everything he’s doing hasn’t surprised me. He’s an excellent player, particularly in the passing game.”
Those quotes aren’t just hindsight, they’re a warning. The Bears let scheme override talent, and it cost them dearly. The parallels to Cole Kmet in 2025 are obvious: a productive tight end being undervalued during a system shift.
Unless a team makes an offer the Bears can’t refuse, such as an early second-round pick, trading Cole Kmet would be premature and shortsighted. With a new offensive staff, a promising rookie, and a versatile tight end group, the Bears should lean into their strengths, not subtract from them.
Cole Kmet still has his best football ahead, and if Chicago wants to build a contender in 2025, they’re going to need both Kmet and Loveland on the field.
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