The idea of the Chicago Bears trading tight end Cole Kmet has seen a significant amount of traction this offseason.
It's exactly the kind of move that sounds logical on paper, but falls apart the moment you zoom out. Kmet has been a valuable part of the Bears' offense for years, and his value has never been higher, particularly under head coach Ben Johnson. This time, Kmet has been linked to the Carolina Panthers.
Much of the reason that Kmet's name has been thrown around stems from the immediate successes of young tight end Colston Loveland. Loveland immediately made a name for himself in Chicago, and by the end of the season, he posted more receiving yards than anyone on the team. But the thing most fans fail to realize is that Kmet and Loveland may play the same position, but their value does not come from the same traits.
This isn’t a redundancy problem, it’s a depth advantage
Loveland may have performed admirably, but removing Kmet from the situation creates a depth issue that would be immediately apparent if Loveland were injured. Coach Johnson favors two tight ends and frequently uses them in offensive deception plays. Having reliable players is paramount to the Bears' success. Big names aren't always needed for this type of role, but finding a diamond in the rough is harder than it seems, and the Bears simply can't afford to sign another veteran tight end.
The tight end room currently stands as one of the strengths of the Bears as a whole, and trading Kmet now would only thin the herd. It's incredibly rare to have two reliable options at tight end, and the Bears have the chance to keep that going for at least the next season. The arguments in favor of trading him often rely upon drafting an additional tight end, but the Bears have far more pressing needs to address.
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This doesn't need to be a one-or-the-other scenario. The Bears may be short for cash, but that doesn't mean offloading a reliable weapon before their hand is forced. The Bears do not become better by subtracting from a position that can quietly become a defining strength of the offense. The smartest move isn't choosing between Kmet and Loveland, it's building an offense that maximizes both.