The Chicago Bears may be becoming a very young, talented team, but veterans still on the roster help lead the charge.
Having these guys is important to the development of the younger players. This will lead to long-term success for the Bears, as the older veterans show young athletes what it takes to be a great NFL player.
Bears rookie third-round pick Sam Roush is learning that lesson quickly in his first year in the league. Cole Kmet is the teacher, and it seems like a good learning experience.
Cole Kmet is showing Sam Roush the ropes entering Bears' 2026 season
Roush had a chance to speak with the media as he approaches his first NFL regular season game against the Carolina Panthers. The rookie talked about learning from Kmet and seeing how he prepares for practice and games each day.
“He's super detail-oriented," Roush said via CHGO. "It's been really cool to watch him go through his process. He's doing like an hour-long warm-up before practice, which is pretty impressive that he is able to come in and do it every single day. It’s been great. He's a guy that does it the right way. And it's awesome to be in a room with guys like Cole and Colston (Loveland) and be on the team with a lot of really great players. That greatness rubs off as long as you're subscribing to the culture and continuing to get closer to guys.”
Kmet was a former second-round pick of the Bears during the 2020 NFL Draft. From 2021 through 2023, he was one of the team's leading receivers, posting at least 544 yards in each year and recording a career-high 719 yards in 2023.
After signing his contract extension, though, aside from his 2023 season, his stats trended downward. When Caleb Williams became the starting quarterback and started spreading the ball around, Kmet saw his stats take a massive dip.
In 2024, he had 474 yards and four touchdowns. Last year, he had 347 yards and two touchdowns, the lowest number of yards since his rookie year.
Williams spreading the ball around and Colston Loveland being drafted last year caused Kmet's playing time and impact to drop on offense. Kmet is still highly regarded as one of the top tight ends in the NFL and could be a starter for half the league.
Roush joins the Bears as a blocking tight end who can help in pass protection and in the running game. He has been learning behind Loveland and Kmet over the last few months, and Roush is seen as the team's future TE2.
Throughout the offseason, Kmet was the subject of trade and cut rumors, but the Bears seem confident he'll be on the team. Kmet brings both blocking and catching skills to the table. He's been a reliable player in this league for a long time.
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During the preseason, Roush looked like he could be a difference-maker in this Bears' offense. Kmet could be a big reason the rookie has a promising future in this league.
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