Position battles are heating up across the Chicago Bears roster, but one situation in particular stands out in the tight end room. With mandatory mini camp underway, one veteran didn’t hide his reaction to a major organizational decision. After five seasons with the Bears, including a leadership role on and off the field, he found himself in unfamiliar territory after a high-profile draft move signaled a shift in strategy.
Cole Kmet, the five-year veteran tight end drafted in the second round back in 2020, was candid when asked about the Bears’ decision to select Colston Loveland 10th overall in this year’s draft. Kmet’s comments came after the first day of mini camp and were shared by Dave, Senior NFL Writer for SM, on X (formerly Twitter).
'I think at first you're taken aback a little bit,' Kmet admitted. 'But Ben [Johnson] was awesome about it in terms of calling me right away and kind of explaining the decision. From there, you're just all on board on it.'
He continued:
'You understand that there's going to be areas where we complement each other, and then there's obviously… areas where we compete for things. And that's football and that's how it should be.' 'The goal with it is to become the best 12-tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there.'
Cole Kmet said he was "taken back a little bit," when the Bears took Loveland at No. 10. pic.twitter.com/w1PVUI7LYk
— Dave (@dave_bfr) June 3, 2025
Last season, Kmet posted 47 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns—a noticeable drop from prior years. Meanwhile, Loveland, though currently recovering from shoulder surgery, arrives as a mismatch nightmare out of Michigan, known for his route-running and after-catch ability.
If the Bears' vision pans out, the pairing could become one of the most dangerous tight end duos in the league. The added competition should elevate both players—something the new coaching staff under Ben Johnson is clearly counting on.
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