Bears reporter Chris Emma believes “it’s reasonable to believe” that TE Cole Kmet “can be a dynamic threat” with new HC Ben Johnson. Emma predicts Kmet will set statistical career highs in 2025.
2025 Fantasy Football Impact
Kmet’s coming off a down 2024 with 47 catches, 474 yards, and 4 TDs (15 games). That’s not too surprising, given that the trio of D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze stayed relatively healthy.
Of course, the Bears also broke in a rookie QB in Caleb Williams. The team fired HC Matt Eberflus in November.
A less turbulent year certainly could lead to career highs for Kmet. Here’s what he’ll need to clear:
- 73 catches (from 2023)
- 719 yards (from 2023)
- 7 TDs (from 2022)
Note: Lions TEs averaged 110 targets across Johnson’s three seasons as OC. And that includes a seven-game season from T.J. Hockenson in 2022.
Emma also pointed to Johnson’s history as a TE coach as reason to be bullish on Kmet.
Now, we’ll have to see where Allen winds up in free agency. But there’s at least a chance he returns to Chicago. If so, that’d make it tougher for Kmet to approach career highs.
Dynasty Impact
Kmet is on his second NFL contract; the Bears have him under team control through the 2027 season.
However, if he's not a fit with HC Ben Johnson, the team can move on from him in 2026 with a relatively light $3.2 million dead cap hit, per Spotrac.
