2022 Chicago Bears Training Camp Guide: Players and storylines to watch

2. Chicago Bears Storyline: The tight end competition

The Chicago Bears have had a tight end hole and major lack of production for a very long time — dating back to Matt Nagy’s first year in Chicago. Since Trey Burton’s first-half breakout, the Bears have had abysmal production from that position and have been looking for a solution ever since.

Ryan Griffin and James O’Shaughnessy were both brought in to add competition to a tight end room that is wide open for the taking as Cole Kmet has yet to establish himself as a long-term building piece.

Chase Allen is a UDFA the Bears brought in on a relatively big UDFA deal, bringing in roughly 72 thousand in guarantees. Clearly, Ryan Poles saw something in him by giving him a good-sized deal. Allen has great complementary skills and could play a role for the Bears in the upcoming season. H is 6’6″ tall, can block, can run after the catch, and his contested catch ability is there. I doubt the Bears have the next franchise tight end in him, but tight ends who play the role that Allen can play can be very helpful to teams.

I would expect the Bears to give Kmet the inside track to the job due to being a highly invested asset, after being a second-round pick. However, the fight for the tight end job should be roughly even and fair as the Bears need a guy who can contribute at the tight end position.