4 underrated Chicago Bears players who could make a massive impact next season

Cole Kmet, TE

Calling Cole Kmet an underrated player still seems valid, as he's not yet looked at as a top-5 player at his position. But, that time is soon coming. In a passing game that was wildly inconsistent and one of the worst in football last year, Kmet still produced a big season, catching 73 passes for 719 yards and six scores.

Just how reliable was Kmet in 2023? Believe it or not, he ranked 2nd in the NFL in catch percentage by a tight end (minimum 32 receptions). Kmet hauled in 73 of 90 targets, for a catch percentage of 81.1. Only Durham Smythe finished with a higher percentage, catching 35 of his 43 targets (81.4 percent).

The thing about Kmet going into 2024 is that he's going to have far less pressure on him than he did a season ago, along with better quarterback play (an assumption, but likely true). The addition of Keenan Allen alongside D.J. Moore is going to make it difficult on defenses to try and stop Kmet. He's going to find himself in a whole lot of one-on-one situations without a lot of help over the top. Having become a viable run-after-catch option, Kmet could do some serious damage.

Even after the addition of Allen and assuming he'll absorb a ton of targets, Kmet could still be in line for a career season in 2024.