10 biggest questions facing Chicago Bears in 2023 season

7. Is Cole Kmet ready to take that next step for the Chicago Bears?

The Chicago Bears are betting on Cole Kmet, and it is easy to understand why. Tight ends very rarely have their best play in their first four years, and it is a position where the best often get better with time. That is why Kmet was so valuable because he was only 21 years old when he was drafted.

So, now he is 24 years old, the same age as rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid. However, Kmet now has 1,399 yards under his belt. When you see the list of names under 25 with as many yards as Kmet, you realize he is in great company, and not a long list of players have been this productive at this young of an age.

So, yes, he has not broken out in a big way where fans think he earned that contract, but he is now just 25 years old and is locked up for the forseeable future. That is what the Bears are banking on, and we could see it as soon as this season. Kmet needs to show a little more dynamic ability with the ball in his hands. At the same time, the space that these added weapons could give him could make things easier. We could also see a small step as a blocker, and he would show fans he deserved that contract.