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I am only saying Kmet isnt special, and that Loveland is better. On our roster, I dont think Kmet is worth the money. For someone else, it might work out differently. Kmet is a middle of the pack starting TE in my view - he will have people interested, but its not gonna be a 1st or 2nd round pick in trade I agree. I agree again about 2 TE sets forcing defenses out of nickel and into base defense. And If Cole isnt on the team, there will be someone else playing TE2 for sure - and they will be an inline blocker so as to force the exact mismatches youre talking about. I just dont think Cole is worth the money they're paying him, and will replace him with someone cheaper. I didnt see Kmet breaking free of LBers covering him. That's the theory here. Or even using his big body in a west coast way to shield off defenders. He SHOULD be able to do that, but I havent seen it on tape. My lack of faith in Kmets price tag is one thing, but we totally agree about 12 personnel and Ben Johnson's ability to leverage it - we see that the same way. I bet the new coaches are looking at Kmet and DJ Moore to see if last year was about losing, or if it means they are head cases. I think for both, they wanted to win and were frustrated with Eberflus. But Im not sure how much of a leadership role Kmet will have going forward here? Especially as TE2? And I do think someone else will pay him to be TE1, and he would naturally want that? Cutting Kmet is an interesting question. It boils it down to just the money. There is no draft pick. Makes it a harder choice. Adam, or anyone, what are the compensatory ramifications for this? Do we get a pick if we cut him?

I agree with all of this. The best way to help Caleb is a good running game that opens up play action.

They released all international games, and the Bears are not on the slate. I do not mind at all that they don't have to travel internationally. The Bears travel the 5th fewest miles. I would say there is not much of a difference in a few thousand miles over the course of an entire season, but with the top 3 teams having over 30K miles and 20K more than the Bears seems like a lot for them, and a good thing for the Bears.

For the sake of argument, how can we say that Kmet is not good and then say someone would trade for him? That's a contradiction I can't wrap my head around. Either he has value or not. Agreeing that we disagree on skills and value to team, explain spreading the field with a move TE and three receivers vs 2 and 2. 2 and 2 gives you the mismatches you want. It requires bigger defenders. With bigger, meaning slower, you now have the ability to mismatch Swift and Loveland with Kmet as a blocker or safety net. Can't do that as well with one TE. Twelve personnel is a matchup problem in the run and pass game. Lastly, Cole is a locker room leader, legacy player and native Chicagoan. My bet is he wants to stay and would sign a reasonable deal to do so. And if you are correct, he's simply not good enough, he's cut.

Loveland is supposed to be an excellent blocker - with a high degree of athleticism. That is why he went where the Bears took him. Or at least that is what they saw in him to take him where they did. It is the combination of high end blocking tools with high end athleticism that make him a unicorn type of prospect at TE which at least in the eyes of Poles justified him drafting him where he was. Whether Bears scouts are right, we shall see - but this isn't a Jimmy Graham who you knew was in there to catch passes vs. block...he's supposed to kind of have the Jimmy Graham pass catching ability while also being a good run blocker, meaning play actions should work really well with him in there, including in 12 package with Kmet on the field too. Knowing how much Ben Johnson leveraged the playaction game in Detroit - you got to think this is going to be a huge focal point of the Bears offense (also helped that Detroit had a very high octane ground game and oline). BJ was also elite in how he mixed those things up too.

i totally get that Kmet and Loveland are different in style. But Im saying Kmet isn t that good - even at what he does. In fact, Im not convinced that Loveland isnt a better blocker than Kmet. As for spacing and working different areas of the field, there are lots of ways to put 4 or 5 guys into the pattern, no matter whether you have 0, 1 or 2 TEs in the game - I know you agree with that. So Kmet isnt better playing any area of the field than Loveland or Burden would be, but there are areas that Kmet cant get to that Burden and Loveland can? So to me, I predict Kmet will get traded next year, or at the trade deadline. But all of this with the caveat that Kmet DOES have physical tools. If the light goes on for him, he can play himself back into relevance here, and stick around. I'm just personally betting against that happening, because i havent seen it yet from him? I suppose if he were to agree to a cheaper contract he could also stay, but no one ever does that with years to go on their deal, and the likelihood that someone will pay him in a trade. But your last point is dead on. The stage is set, over-set even. There are weapons everywhere and a stellar coaching staff. It all falls on Caleb now. Exciting times to be sure! I mean, what does it say that we are all dithering over TE2? That only happens when other things are looking set. Pretty cool.

Bowers and Loveland are the same player. Kmet gives Loveland a compliment instead competition. They work different areas of the field to provide spacing and give more options. So, yes I disagree. Johnson called exactly 100 pass plays to his TE's last year. Our TE's are individually better than theirs, so I'm predicting a slight uptick in opportunity there. Johnson also is an extremely balanced play caller. He'll vary plays designed to the personnel he has, but I believe that same balance will exist. Still, it's all on Caleb...

I agree. Loveland isnt a bad blocker though. There was a narrative that he was all WR, and youre right that he can play like one, but apparently he is a better blocker than people realize too. Im not sure when we go to one TE inline that it will be Kmet though and not Loveland?

Poles has been active at the trade deadline every year.

I dont think anyone, including me, disagrees with that. It's not too early to make projections, but it is too early to actually trade Kmet in any case.

Before I start getting rid of players, I want to see the offense work first. This is way to early to project scenarios.

We cant change the draft. They took a TE and we will play the year with 2 TEs in this offense. Our cap space is fine. We have 6.7 mil to the good and will be making some cuts. Next year we have 28 mil to start the year. We still have this year to add some vets cut to help at DE. LT has 3 competing for the job, I doubt that add there. Our roster is set. They made the choices they wanted.

Loveland is closer to WR Tat McMillan because he will be a slot/move TE. Loveland and Burden will rotate while Kmet stays at TE or if they want to go better blocking put Smythe in. You wont see Loveland inline like Kmet/Smythe. Kmet is paid decently, so the Bears could trade him before his final year. That would be smart to get value. Since the Bears are paying all their QBs 13 mil total, they can splurge the extra money right now. The Bears have technically 4 more years of this benefit. That's a lot of years to draft players and balance the team for long term success.

You are correct in that you shouldn't pay top money to two TE's. Kmet also won't fetch anything in trade. Not because he has no value, but because he's what every team has. If it gets down to money, I expect him to restructure accordingly or be cut. Just not this year. Again, I can't see anyone trading for his salary...

If it was Bowers and Loveland, they'd make it work, and work well. The whole question here really rests on how good Kmet really is. We all have our views, but we will all see him on the field, with Johnson using him correctly. if he balls out, then we will keep him and be fearsome. If he doesnt, hes gone at some point. Those that rate him highly will expect him to play well, and should feel pretty good that he will stay. Those that rate him less well will expect him to play at a mediocre level and feel good that he will be gone. Im in the second group, but I will be very happy to be proven wrong. It's not impossible by any means. Kmet's measurables are really great. So we will see if he can quickly ascend under Johnson's tutelage. He can wake up and take his destiny, but its not easy to do, and his window is probably pretty short. I hope he does it.

The owners share profits and markets like the Lakers and Dallas bring in a lot more than Utah or Charlotte. It could be a collective agreement as the Bulls were given Rose and Cleveland Lebron in the lotto, so the cheat is spread around year to year.

The numbers won't be as great as that, but it's the idea of two TEs that can work on the field together. If you replace the receptions on NE going down to Moore, Odunze, Loveland, Kmet and shave some from each of those for Burden.

Gronk is the unicorn in the room. He's the greatest inline TE of all time. Loveland can counter that due to him being more talented than Hernandez. It's still hard to offset the GOAT.

I think at this point we've all been so abused by the Bears, it is wise to want to see it on tape before getting too ahead of ourselves. I really want it, but I need to see it.

Right, youre not hating on Loveland, you just wish theyd spent the pick elsewhere. And I think you think Kmet was OK (and I do too) but I also think you dont think Loveland will be worth the lost opportunity to have spent the pick elsewhere. My disagreement with that is i think hes gonna be a star. If he just ends up decent, then youre totally right.

Bingo. Can’t build the best TE room in NFL history and leave other positions empty. That’s my primary point regarding this situation.

I cant say it isnt rigged, but if i understand correctly there are a lot of balls in there and some teams have multiple balls and some have just one, and a team with just one won it. Consider that each ball in there has the same % chance to be picked. Each team has a different % of outcome, because some have more balls, but each singular ball has the same chance to be picked, so it's not so crazy that the team with just one ball won.

That is me too - I want to see it in the season .

Lets GO.

Comparing a rookie and an underused TE, regardless of how talented they are, to the best TE combo in NFL history, is quite a reach IMO. Can it work? Fingers crossed. But I don’t think it’ll be close to that and I think Kmet’s on a countdown.