The Chicago Bears have pieced together one of their most intriguing rosters in years. For the first time, it genuinely feels like they have balance on both sides of the ball. The defense is already good, having finished 2023 as one of the NFL’s best, thanks to the Montez Sweat trade. It’s the investments on offense that has everybody excited. Caleb Williams arrives as the #1 overall pick at quarterback. Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze arrived to help D.J. Moore at wide receiver. D’Andre Swift brings more explosiveness at running back. It feels like a roster capable of big things.
However, former GM Jeff Diamond believes one group isn’t getting talked about enough. He mentioned it while discussing the Bears’ chances of going from worst to first in the division for The 33rd Team.
“The biggest question in Chicago, of course, is whether first overall pick Caleb Williams can develop quickly into a top NFL quarterback and lead a passing offense that is loaded at wide receiver with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and another first-round talent in Rome Odunze.
Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett are an excellent tight end duo. D’Andre Swift improves the team at running back if he stays healthy. The offensive line must improve in pass protection because it allowed 50 sacks last season, the seventh most.”
It is a fair point. Kmet had a career-high 719 yards last season and six touchdowns, ranking second on the team behind Moore. Everett has averaged 400-500 yards for the past three seasons, along with four touchdowns. Getting that kind of production from your top two tight ends is not a bad thing.
The Chicago Bears have untapped potential at tight end.
Remember, Kmet spent most of his career catching passes from quarterbacks like Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. Neither would qualify as high-level football throwers at the position. Yet the tight end still found ways to be productive. If Williams ends up becoming the legitimate franchise quarterback the Bears envision, it may finally unlock what Kmet is truly capable of. Knowing Everett, with all his versatility, is also in the mix means this unit can attack defenses in a variety of different ways.
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This is before you recall the Chicago Bears also brought back Marcedes Lewis. Though 40 years old, he is still one of the best blockers at the position in the league. To say nothing of his massive value as a locker room leader. So yes, Diamond is correct. They’ve quietly built a well-rounded tight end group that should be a much bigger factor than people are projecting. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron loves to run lots of “12” personnel groupings, which feature two tight ends on the field. That should lead to some big moments.
Just think about the potential offensive potency of 3 great WRs x 3 good TEs x 3 good RBs combinations with a quality passing QB against defenses and their perceived weaknesses. I am hard-pressed to remember a time like this in the past.
I knew a different Diamond who said I had the best unit.