One thing you must do whenever a new coaching staff takes over is accept the possibility that significant roster changes may follow. Lovie Smith moved proven defensive end Phillip Daniels out in his first year. Matt Nagy phased out Jordan Howard after the 2018 season. Matt Eberflus signed off on trading Roquan Smith and didn’t re-sign Bilal Nichols. Coaches have their own ideas about what types of players they think produce a winner. Ben Johnson is likely the same. That is where Cole Kmet comes in.
As personnel goes, most would think the tight end is one of the key pieces on the offense alongside D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. Tom Waddle of ESPN 1000 isn’t so sure. While Kmet isn’t a bad player, he feels his production and overall impact don’t justify the contract the Bears are paying him. Johnson prefers tight ends who are more explosive in the passing game. Sam LaPorta is the obvious example. T.J. Hockenson is another. If the new head coach feels the Bears can do better, he may encourage trading Kmet for draft picks and $6.8 million in cap space. They could then apply that capital to positions of greater need like offensive line and pass rusher.
Cole Kmet still feels like he has more to offer.
In his career, he’s had Nagy, Luke Getsy, Shane Waldron, and Thomas Brown as his offensive coordinators. That isn’t an inspiring group of top offensive minds. None of them, aside from Waldron, had any play-calling experience when they took over, and he was notorious for underutilizing tight ends in Seattle. Johnson represents the first proven playcaller who features that position they’ve added. Unless the Bears are hurting for cap space (which they aren’t) or think they can get a sizable return of draft capital, this isn’t a move that seems logical or likely. Then again, trading Greg Olsen was a shocker in 2011. Anything can happen with this team.
