Cole Kmet

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		100	288	2,939	21
2025		16	30	347	2
2024		17	47	474	4
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bears took a measured gamble on Cole Kmet with this four-year, $50M extension, and while it's not a catastrophic overpay, it's hard to call this anything better than a slight reach for a rotational player earning $12.5M annually. Kmet's production profile sits squarely in that frustrating middle tier where he's shown flashes of being a reliable red zone target and possession receiver, but hasn't consistently elevated himself above the pack of solid-but-unspectacular tight ends across the league. At 25, he's theoretically entering his prime years, which provides some upside justification for betting on continued development, especially with Caleb Williams potentially unlocking more of his receiving potential. The $22.9M in guaranteed money offers the Bears reasonable flexibility to pivot after two seasons if Kmet doesn't take the expected leap, though that's still a hefty commitment for someone who profiles more as a complementary piece than a featured weapon. This C-grade CVI reflects a contract that's neither a steal nor a disaster — Chicago paid market rate for a decent starter while banking on upside that may or may not materialize, leaving them in salary cap limbo if Kmet remains merely adequate rather than ascending to that next tier.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Cole's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Cole Kmet enters his sixth NFL season as a former second-round pick who has carved out a reliable role in Chicago's offense but remains well short of his ceiling. Graded D+ overall this season, Kmet's trajectory is concerning — sliding from a C+ in 2023 to a D+ in 2024 and now a D- in 2025. For a 27-year-old with 100 games of experience, that downward arc raises real questions about his development ceiling relative to peers like Dallas Goedert or Mark Andrews at similar career stages. On the positive side, Kmet's yards-per-reception of 11.6 sits above the NFL average of 10.1, suggesting he's winning with the ball in his hands when targeted. The critical concern, however, is volume — his 21.7 receiving yards per game falls well below the NFL average of 35.0 and nowhere near the elite threshold of 55.0. His touchdown rate of 0.13 per game is similarly troubling, less than half the league average of 0.25, limiting his fantasy and real-world impact significantly. It's worth noting that Kmet's career body of work is broader than one snapshot reflects, but the sustained multi-year decline demands honest evaluation. His athleticism and route-running keep him on rosters, but he needs a dramatic efficiency and usage leap in 2026 to remain a starter-caliber tight end rather than a rotational piece. Watch whether Chicago's offensive scheme evolution under their developing quarterback unlocks the red-zone role Kmet has never consistently secured.

How Cole Compares at the Position

Cole Kmet ranks 30th of 172 graded tight ends by performance. That slots Cole between Isaiah Likely (D+) just ahead and Travis Vokolek (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Cole Kmet enters the 2026 offseason in an uncertain position, with multiple credible reports suggesting the Chicago Bears are exploring trade options at the tight end position. The volume and specificity of trade destination coverage — including named suitors like the Cleveland Browns — signals that this is more than routine offseason noise, reflecting genuine organizational ambivalence about his long-term fit. Despite accumulating nearly 3,000 career receiving yards and serving as a reliable starter for six seasons, Kmet has never broken through to Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition, leaving his market value somewhat difficult to define. His $12.5 million annual salary makes him a tradeable asset rather than a cap casualty, which tempers the negativity slightly, as teams are actively pursuing him rather than simply releasing him. Overall, fan and media sentiment is cautious and unsettled, with the prevailing narrative framing Kmet as a competent but replaceable starter whose next chapter will likely unfold elsewhere.