Bears urged to send longtime player to Chiefs to replace Travis Kelce

Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears are still tweaking things ahead of the 2026 season, so don't be surprised if some last-minute announcements pop up from this camp. There are still a handful of players on this roster who the Bears could opt to trade and get something in return.

Now, the Bears are being urged to trade a longtime tight end to the Kansas City Chiefs, and he could be a possible Travis Kelce replacement. Kelce, 36, is coming up on what's expected to be his final season with the Chiefs, so that franchise needs to lock in a tight end for the future.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report is making the case for the Bears to trade Cole Kmet to the Chiefs or Carolina Panthers in exchange for a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick or veteran defender. What makes the Chiefs idea extra sweet is that Kmet has the tools to be a real successor to Kelce. Even though he doesn't share the same play style as Kelce, he's reliable and seasoned, making him a good fit for Andy Reid's offense.

Bears' Cole Kmet could replace Travis Kelce in Kansas City

"The Chicago Bears won't be eager to move tight end Cole Kmet, especially not after restructuring his contract to better align with his current role," Knox notes in the feature. "Still, that doesn't mean that Kmet is viewed as a permanent fixture of Chicago's offense."

If the Bears trade Kmet this summer, they'll save $1.4 million in space, according to research from Spotrac.

"Teams seeking a quality pass-catching tight end should make a few calls to the Bears in the coming weeks," Knox adds, "especially if they're willing to part with a defensive back or edge rusher who can help Chicago's ongoing defensive rebuild."

Landing Kmet right now would be a huge benefit to the Chiefs. They'd have a seasoned tight end ready to step in and still learn from Kelce before he retires.