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The Chicago Bears are in the middle of an important offseason, where they're looking to develop into a contender under new head coach Ben Johnson.
Following a busy free agency that included some big-name additions, including offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman, as well as defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears are shifting their focus toward the 2025 NFL draft.
Chicago has seven draft picks, even after their two trades, including four in the Top 75 -- 10th overall, a pair of high second rounders and a third-round selection.
Here at Bears Wire, we're going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2025 NFL draft. Next up is tight end, where the Bears could be looking to pair Cole Kmet with a playmaker in this draft class.
Cole Kmet signed a long-term contract extension during the 2023 offseason to keep him in Chicago through the 2027 season. While Kmet has consistently been one of the most reliable weapons on the Bears offense, he's coming off a down year in 2024. Kmet had his worst season since his rookie year with 47 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns. But it wasn't all his fault as he was often relegated to a blocking role given the team's struggling offensive line. In fact, Kmet had a career-high 85.5% catch percentage, so he was catching the ball when it was thrown his way. Kmet figures to serve from the addition of new head coach Ben Johnson, who will look to get him going like Sam LaPorta in Detroit.
Durham Smythe, a former fourth-round pick in 2018, spent the last seven years with the Dolphins, where he played under new Bears head coach and former Dolphins wide receivers coach Ben Johnson in 2018. Smythe was released by Miami last month, freeing him up to sign one-year deal with Chicago. Last season, Smythe appeared in 17 games, with four starts, and totaled just nine catches for 53 yards. His best season came in 2023, where he nabbed 35 receptions for 366 yards in 16 games with 14 starts.
The Bears re-signed Stephen Carlson this offseason, and he's currently positioned as TE3. Joel Wilson and Jordan Murray both signed a reserve/future contract this offseason, and they'll be training camp bodies contending for a spot on the practice squad.
The Bears signed Gerald Everett to a two-year, $12 million contract last offseason to serve as a complement to Kmet, but things didn't exactly go to plan. Everett was released on Feb. 21 after a disappointing first season where he totaled just eight catches for 36 yards. General manager Ryan Poles noted that scheme change and his contract situation were the reasons for Everett's release, which freed up $5.5 million in salary cap space with $1 million in dead money.
Meanwhile, Marcedes Lewis remains a free agent at age 40. Lewis has been known for his blocking prowess in his 19-year career, but he had just one catch for two yards. Lewis could certainly retire this offseason after 19 seasons in the NFL, where he's officially the longest-tenured tight end in league history.
While Kmet is coming off a down year production wise, he's their clear-cut TE1 heading into 2025 and beyond. He'll serve a key role in Ben Johnson's offense and as Caleb Williams' security blanket next season. The biggest concern is depth behind Kmet, where Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis haven't been enough. Tight end isn't as big a need as the offensive and defensive lines, but it's still a position of need that needs to be addressed through free agency and/or the NFL draft.
There's not general consensus on the top tight end in this draft class, but it's between Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, who are both projected first-round picks. While Warren or even Loveland could be an option for Chicago in the first round, they're more likely going in another direction depending on how the board falls. But there will be other options on Day 2 or Day 3 for the Bears to add to their tight end room behind Cole Kmet.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL draft preview: Where do Chicago Bears stand at tight end?
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Following a busy free agency that included some big-name additions, including offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman, as well as defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears are shifting their focus toward the 2025 NFL draft.
Chicago has seven draft picks, even after their two trades, including four in the Top 75 -- 10th overall, a pair of high second rounders and a third-round selection.
Here at Bears Wire, we're going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2025 NFL draft. Next up is tight end, where the Bears could be looking to pair Cole Kmet with a playmaker in this draft class.
Who's on the roster?
- Cole Kmet
- Durham Smythe
- Stephen Carlson
- Joel Wilson
- Jordan Murray
Cole Kmet signed a long-term contract extension during the 2023 offseason to keep him in Chicago through the 2027 season. While Kmet has consistently been one of the most reliable weapons on the Bears offense, he's coming off a down year in 2024. Kmet had his worst season since his rookie year with 47 catches for 474 yards and four touchdowns. But it wasn't all his fault as he was often relegated to a blocking role given the team's struggling offensive line. In fact, Kmet had a career-high 85.5% catch percentage, so he was catching the ball when it was thrown his way. Kmet figures to serve from the addition of new head coach Ben Johnson, who will look to get him going like Sam LaPorta in Detroit.
Durham Smythe, a former fourth-round pick in 2018, spent the last seven years with the Dolphins, where he played under new Bears head coach and former Dolphins wide receivers coach Ben Johnson in 2018. Smythe was released by Miami last month, freeing him up to sign one-year deal with Chicago. Last season, Smythe appeared in 17 games, with four starts, and totaled just nine catches for 53 yards. His best season came in 2023, where he nabbed 35 receptions for 366 yards in 16 games with 14 starts.
The Bears re-signed Stephen Carlson this offseason, and he's currently positioned as TE3. Joel Wilson and Jordan Murray both signed a reserve/future contract this offseason, and they'll be training camp bodies contending for a spot on the practice squad.
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Who departed this offseason?
- Gerald Everett
- Marcedes Lewis
The Bears signed Gerald Everett to a two-year, $12 million contract last offseason to serve as a complement to Kmet, but things didn't exactly go to plan. Everett was released on Feb. 21 after a disappointing first season where he totaled just eight catches for 36 yards. General manager Ryan Poles noted that scheme change and his contract situation were the reasons for Everett's release, which freed up $5.5 million in salary cap space with $1 million in dead money.
Meanwhile, Marcedes Lewis remains a free agent at age 40. Lewis has been known for his blocking prowess in his 19-year career, but he had just one catch for two yards. Lewis could certainly retire this offseason after 19 seasons in the NFL, where he's officially the longest-tenured tight end in league history.
Positional need: Moderate
While Kmet is coming off a down year production wise, he's their clear-cut TE1 heading into 2025 and beyond. He'll serve a key role in Ben Johnson's offense and as Caleb Williams' security blanket next season. The biggest concern is depth behind Kmet, where Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis haven't been enough. Tight end isn't as big a need as the offensive and defensive lines, but it's still a position of need that needs to be addressed through free agency and/or the NFL draft.
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Top draft prospects
- Tyler Warren, Penn State
- Colston Loveland, Michigan
- Mason Taylor, LSU
- Elijah Arroyo, Miami
- Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
There's not general consensus on the top tight end in this draft class, but it's between Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, who are both projected first-round picks. While Warren or even Loveland could be an option for Chicago in the first round, they're more likely going in another direction depending on how the board falls. But there will be other options on Day 2 or Day 3 for the Bears to add to their tight end room behind Cole Kmet.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2025 NFL draft preview: Where do Chicago Bears stand at tight end?
Continue reading...
