Windy City Gridiron
With camp opening this week, we’re breaking down every position group on the Bears.
I have no idea what the Chicago Bears' plan was at tight end last year. Cole Kmet was coming off a career high 73 receptions and 719 yards, and they added free agent Gerald Everett, who averaged 50 catches the previous four seasons. Yet, the position was an afterthought as the entire position group combined for 56 receptions and 512 yards.
Head coach Ben Johnson has a penchant for play action, and he knows how to get his tight ends involved.
With rookie Colston Loveland in the mix, Kmet probably won’t approach his career highs from 2023, but he’ll continue being a reliable option in the passing game. Last year, Kmet was fourth in the entire NFL with a 70.9 success rate, which is a reception that gains at least 40% of the yards required on 1st down, 60% of the yards on 2nd down, or 100% on 3rd or 4th down.
Loveland is a fluid athlete who will let Ben Johnson bring over some of the stuff he did with Sam LaPorta in Detroit. Between him and Kmet, I would not be surprised if they doubled last year’s production from the tight end room.
Kmet will primarily line up in-line at the Y, while Loveland will be moved all around the offense.
The third tight end will be Durham Smythe, who was signed to $2.5 million deal with $1.5 million guaranteed. He’s mostly been a Y, and in his seven-year career, he’s started 74 of 112 games, with 132 receptions. Smythe’s rookie year in Miami crossed over with Ben Johnson, who was the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach that season. There’s also familiarity with Kmet, as his senior year at Notre Dame was Kmet’s freshman year.
I think the Bears open with just three tight ends, but they could keep a couple on the practice squad if 12 personnel is as big a part of their plans as anticipated.
Joel Wilson has bounced around a bit in the two years since being a UDFA by the Saints, and he received some offseason hype from Ben Johnson.
“He’s got a little savvy in how he moves,” Johnson said about Wilson. “He’s got a nice route feel about him. The test will really be when we get going in camp, how he holds up in the run game and the pass pro game. But so far in the running route section of tight end play, he’s stood out in a positive light.”
He may have the coach’s eye, but he’ll need a big camp to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.
Veteran Stephen Carlson is back to try for a practice squad spot. Also in camp is Jordan Murray, who is on his fifth team since being a 2023 UDFA out of Missouri State.
