Bears insider Brad Biggs noted there are several avenues for the club, suggesting an extension remains a possibility but not necessarily at a bargain price. Kmet is locked in through 2027 and will be 29 as a 2028 free agent, which could limit how beneficial a deal that merely reduces 2026 cap hurt might be for him.
The Bears signaled their intent to keep Kmet this season by paying him a $1 million roster bonus in March, a move widely interpreted as a vote of confidence. A Chicago native who grew up nearby and was drafted in 2020, Kmet has long been a steady presence on a team-building trajectory under head coach Ben Johnson.
Durability and run-blocking versatility have been among Kmet’s core strengths, and he remains a reliable hands option for the offense. His best statistical season came in 2023, when he posted 73 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns, though his 2025 totals declined to 30 catches for 347 yards and two TDs.
The Colston Loveland factor looms large in these discussions. Loveland, selected 10th overall in the 2025 draft, finished his rookie year with 70 receptions, 906 yards and six touchdowns, including 193 yards in two playoff games. Some view Loveland’s rise as a reason to move on from Kmet, while others see a path to a potent two-TE punch that could benefit from continuity.
Ultimately, fiscal considerations exist, but there are credible reasons the Bears could keep Kmet beyond 2026. A potential home-team discount, prior extensions, and the desire to preserve a high-functioning tight end tandem could tilt the balance toward extending Kmet or negotiating a structure that keeps him in Chicago through the early years of Loveland’s development.
