3 Chicago Bears on the cusp of their first Pro Bowl in 2023
- A freshly-paid offensive weapon
- A surprising name makes the list
- QB1 is ready for take-off
By Ryan Heckman
This year, the Chicago Bears have been generating a good amount of hype; not as a team that could contend for a Super Bowl by any means, but one that will be much-improved.
Fans will take that in a heartbeat, compared to watching the Bears finish with the league's worst record.
As the Bears head into Week 1 of the season, they have a few candidates to make their first Pro Bowl, on their way to helping the team improve greatly. Let's highlight three of them.
1. Cole Kmet, TE
Fresh off signing a big extension, tight end Cole Kmet could be in line to make his first-ever Pro Bowl appearance. Last season, the NFC was represented by George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson. For Kmet to get in, he'd likely have to end with somewhere between 60-75 receptions, 700-850 yards and close to 10 touchdowns.
Last year, Kmet caught 50 passes for 544 yards and seven scores, so the path is certainly there for him to improve. The Bears' passing attack was almost non-existent last season, and Kmet was still able to score seven times. Assuming the Bears throw it more, now that they have better protection and more weapons, Kmet's opportunities should open up.
If D.J. Moore is option number one, the door for Kmet to be Justin Fields' second option is open. Darnell Mooney could claim that spot, but Kmet has also become a comfortable target for Fields. Even if Kmet finishes third on the team in receiving, he could still earn a Pro Bowl nod.