The Chicago Bears finally made a pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ryan Pace got this one wrong and Bears fans should be disappointed.
Let me start off by saying I really like Cole Kmet. He is my top-ranked tight end and has been for a while. A few months ago I wanted the Chicago Bears to select him with one of their second-round picks. Why am I so upset then?
How about the fact that Grant Delpit was on the board still? He was selected one pick later by the Cleveland Browns. Delpit was the 38th overall pick on my draft board, however, Kmet did not crack my top 75. This is a very watered down tight end class and even though Kmet is my favorite tight end, none of them were worth taking at the 43rd overall pick.
Kmet had a solid 2019 season and proved he’s the best all-around tight end. He actually reminds me of Travis Kelce in ways. He will learn nicely behind Jimmy Graham, but tight ends almost never make immediate impacts in their first seasons. The team is in a win-now window and adding a tight end who will barely play makes no sense at all.
The team also has 10 tight ends on the roster. There’s no reason to take a tight end here. If you wanted to add another one, look at a Day 3 tight end who could wind up making just as big of an impact as Kmet. In 2019 for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Kmet caught 43 balls for 515 yards and six touchdowns. He also is a decent inline blocker. As I said he might be the most pro-ready tight end available. Why take him though? Ryan Pace is clearly not feeling like he’s on the hot seat.
Remember when I said the Packers helped Ryan Pace by taking Jordan Love? This pick is not much better. When you see names like Denzel Mims, K.J. Hamler and Chase Claypool available, these are the players Ryan Pace should have taken if he wanted help on the offensive side of the ball. This move does not get them closer to a Super Bowl. Why not a safety, cornerback or wide receiver who are much more talented and fall within the top 50 on my draft board?
Now, Pace better redeem himself by trading back from No. 50 overall or I am going to go off the handle. Thoughts on Cole Kmet here at No. 43?