NEWSLETTER
Last year, we watched Cole Kmet elevate his game to another level. In doing so, Kmet helped Justin Fields make some strides as a passer. Not enough to keep Fields around for another season in Chicago, mind you. But enough to get us to notice the evolution in Kmet’s game.
Now, Kmet is preparing to help rookie quarterback Caleb Williams get acclimated to life in the NFL. And if Cole Kmet can do for Caleb in 2024 (and beyond) what he did for Justin in 2023, then there is a good chance we will look at the contract extension the Chicago Bears tight end signed last summer as a tremendous deal for both the team and player.
In chopping it up on an appearance with SiriusXM NFL Radio, Cole Kmet shared some nuggets regarding the progress his new starting quarterback has made during the offseason training program:
“That whole draft process was so interesting just because you’re hearing all these different things about him. But as I got to know him, and everyone else got to know him, he’s really just a normal dude. A really good kid. Ultra-competitive. And you can see why he’s been so successful thus far in his football career and why he has the types of intangibles to succeed in the NFL. I’m really excited for him. He’s been putting in a lot of work and you can see the progress he was making throughout the OTA period, so I’m really excited about him.
Obviously, ultra-talented. I think as the people of Chicago get to know him more and more, the more they’ll get to like him.”
If anyone needs me, I’ll be hyping myself to run through a brick wall for the Caleb Williams-Cole Kmet tag team tandem in 2024.
I’m looking forward to seeing Cole Kmet and Caleb Williams team up in 2024
OK, I’ll admit it. Again. I was wary of the Cole Kmet pick when it happened in 2020. Sorry, not sorry. Can you blame me? I had been burned too many times by Notre Dame prospects who didn’t live up to the hype that came with their arrival. But not only has Kmet bucked that trend, he has improved each and every year as a pro. The 25-year-old tight end is entering the prime of his career. In theory, the best could still be yet to come. Giggity!
MORE: Cole Kmet Has a Great Story About Caleb Williams’ Competitive Nature
Kmet is coming off a 73-catch, 719-yard, 6-touchdown season in 2023. The 73 receptions and 719 yards were both career highs for the Chicagoland native who played his high school ball at St. Viator. Kmet’s 90 targets were the second most he has seen in his career (he had 93 in 2021). And his six touchdowns were one fewer than he had in the previous year. I can’t help but think that a healthy Kmet (remember, he played with a broken forearm in the season finale against the Green Bay Packers) would have tied or set a new career high in that category. But perhaps a healthy Cole Kmet will do that (and more?) with Caleb Williams in 2024.
There are two things I’m keeping in mind as I try to forecast what the Bears offense will look like next year. Firstly, it is Cole Kmet and his continued development as a pass-catcher. Kmet has gotten better as a route-runner and as someone who presents himself as an option for a quarterback looking for an outlet. If he continues to be a plus in that facet of his game, QB1 will benefit from it. Secondly, Kmet’s usage might take a hit from a volume standpoint. But that is OK, so long as he continues to be efficient and effective.
There figure to be plenty of targets to go around. Although, it would be foolish to assume Kmet will get the same number of targets in 2024 that he got in 2023. ESPN’s projections have Cole Kmet getting 78 targets, 58 catches, 519 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns. Those would be a step back from his 2023 production. However, since projections are conservative by nature, I can envision a path to Kmet surpassing those numbers.
But the thing I can see most clearly is how Kmet can help Caleb Williams get comfortable as an NFL quarterback. There isn’t a metric for that (not yet at least).
