Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has a ton of really tough decisions to make, but whatever he does with tight end Cole Kmet might be rough no matter what.
The Bears need to create cap space as they are $5 million under and need to get out of the red. NFL.com's Matt Okada proposes a solution that would involve Kmet departing as a cap casualty.
"Ben Johnson’s offense used 12 personnel at the sixth-highest rate in the league in 2025 (32.5%, tied with the Giants), so utilizing the TE combo of Kmet and dynamic rookiemade sense. However, after watching Loveland’s breakout down the stretch — and the corresponding drop in Kmet’s numbers -- it becomes tougher to justify Kmet's $11.6 million cap hit in 2026. Chicago, which currently sits $5.3 million in the red, can move on for a whopping $8.4 million in cap savings. Kmet enjoyed his best campaigns in 2022 and '23, and he's largely average as a run blocker. Combine his decreasing production with the price point and Kmet doesn't make much sense as a TE2 behind Loveland -- even in an offense that often uses two TEs. I'd expect the Bears to move on and potentially sign a player likeorin free agency."
Cole Kmet might not be long for the Bears in 2026
Nobody really wants to get rid of Kmet because everyone knows he's a solid tight end in the NFL. The reality is that he is getting paid way too much to be Colston Loveland's backup and to produce only 347 yards and two touchdowns in a season.
Kmet has been at the center of trade speculation and now appears to be under consideration for release. The only other option that might make sense is to see if Kmet is willing to restructure his contract or take a pay cut in 2026 to stay with the team and help it out.
It's well known that Kmet wants to stay in Chicago in 2026, but understands the business side of the league, so he's expecting anything to happen. The Bears could really use him and keep their incredible two-headed monster at tight end. Chicago needs to decide whether Kmet is worth keeping.
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Kmet is a talented tight end who could probably start for many NFL teams. While the Bears would love to have him on their roster in 2026, they have bigger needs to address and the money to make it happen, so Kmet might not be so lucky.