Cole Kmet heads to Bears in Round 2 as 1st TE drafted

The Chicago Bears selected tight end Cole Kmet out of Notre Dame in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 43rd overall.

Kmet is the first tight end selected in the draft, and the first player chosen by the Bears, who didn't have a pick in the opening round.

This continues an offseason of turnover at the tight end position for Chicago, which previously signed Jimmy Graham and released Trey Burton. The Bears have also reportedly been shopping Adam Shaheen, who has struggled to make an impact since being drafted in the second round in 2017.

Kmet had 515 yards and six touchdowns through the air for Notre Dame in 2019.

Prospect Profile

School: Notre Dame
Height: 6-6
Weight: 262 lbs

Positives

• NFL-ready size and frame
• Athletic testing scores were much better than expected
• Reliable hands with an ability to adjust his body to haul in off-target passes
• High football IQ - able to find the soft spot in zones, work his way back to the quarterback on scrambles, and attack the seams
• Excellent ball tracker
• Long strides make for smooth releases off the line of scrimmage
• Can run past linebackers in the second level

Negatives

• Overall college production was unimpressive compared to his peers
• Not effective on contested-catch opportunities
• Trouble consistently separating against man coverage
• Not elusive in the open field
• Must improve as a blocker and improve his strength at the point of attack - often lost his balance in the run game

Bottom line

Kmet doesn't offer a plethora of ways to beat defenses, but he's good at what he does. Scoring attacks in need of a cerebral tight end with soft hands who attacks the seam and the middle of the field will love the former Notre Dame standout. While he currently lacks the strength and blocking technique NFL teams covet in an every-down player, Kmet has the frame to eventually improve that part of his game. With enough speed and athleticism on top of that, there's certainly potential here.