The Bears have opened the 2026 season in decent shape overall, but the tight end spot has been a mess, and that’s where the noise around Cole Kmet is coming from.
Kmet has posted just 56 receiving yards and one touchdown, and the alarming part is how heavily that production is tied to Week 1. His lone score and 35 of those yards came in that offensive outburst, and since then he has been almost invisible.
That kind of start has naturally pushed trade talk back into the conversation. Chicago has defensive holes that Kmet could potentially help address, and the Bears already have Colston Loveland on the roster along with rookie Sam Roush, who has shown a baseline of capability as a target.
At the same time, the stat sheet does not tell the full story of what Kmet brings. He still matters as a blocker, and his veteran presence carries weight.
The effort has been there every time he’s on the field, even if the production has not followed. That reality could make the Bears hesitant to move on from a player whose numbers have room to climb.
But the other side of the equation is simple enough: if Chicago is not going to use the position at a high level, Kmet could become a useful trade chip. His contract could help the front office chase an edge rusher or bring back extra draft capital to feed another move for defensive help.
The lack of production is especially notable because Kmet has shown he can be a featured part of an offense. He did that with Justin Fields at quarterback, which is part of why this slow start stands out so much. Some fans will point to the current group of playmakers being deeper than what he had before, but even with that in mind, he has been more quiet than expected.
For now, Chicago faces a fork in the road. The Bears can hope Kmet’s role grows and his numbers follow, or they can start looking for a trade partner. There may not be one obvious team that jumps out, but his past production should draw at least some interest from contenders.
It also fits a longer-running idea around Chicago: the Bears have often been viewed as a team that could move a tight end for help elsewhere. Loveland’s arrival already suggested Kmet was on borrowed time, and this sluggish start has only made that possibility feel more real.
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