Windy City Gridiron
In the third part of our series, we look at the tight end group.
This is the third part of our building block series as we continue to look at each position group and if that room currently has a building block as a part of it that the Chicago Bears will be using to build around moving forward.
So far, we’ve looked at the safeties and running backs, and unfortunately, we haven’t found a building block on the roster yet. As a reminder, when we assess each player, we look at the following factors: age, contract, ability, position, and projection.
It’s time to look at the tight end room.
Carlson is a TE4 that has been on the Bears practice squad the last couple of years. The Bears have Cole Kmet and newly signed Durham Smythe and there’s a pretty strong expectation that the Bears draft a tight end in this draft. That means Carlson, who is currently the team’s TE3, is pushed back to TE4 and most likely returns to the practice squad.
No Block.
Smythe comes in as someone familiar with Ben Johnson after working with him in Miami. Smythe saw a reduced role in Miami in 2024 after being a solid contributor for the Dolphins from 2020 to 2023. Smythe signed a one-year deal with the Bears this season and will 100% be a part of the tight end room this year, but will he be the team’s TE2 or TE3? I would expect that Johnson would like him to be the team’s 3rd TE this year, but that will depend on what they accomplish in the draft.
Ryan Poles has never drafted a tight end during his entire tenure in Chicago, and that is expected to change this year. I would expect the Bears will plan to lean on Smythe early in the season and eventually move his snaps over to their rookie tight end for 21 personnel as the season progresses.
No Block.
As we reach the end of our third part of our Block or No Block series, we have yet to find a building block. The search has ended. Kmet is under contract through 2027 and has a very reasonable cap hit of $11.6 million per season. If Kmet stays healthy, he could be in line to have another two to three year contract after this one and at that point in his career, it should also be a pretty affordable price.
Kmet isn’t going to be confused with Travis Kelce or George Kittle, but he’s a steady player who won’t wow you with his blocking, but can do a solid job in that department, and we’ve seen him produce as a pass catcher as well.
Ben Johnson will have to find a way to have Kmet more involved in the passing attack this year, especially with the expected departure of Keenan Allen. Kmet will never be an elite player, but he’s a...
