Inside information

[Stinger226]

I didn't know where to put this so I put it here.

The bears met with Jamal Williams that played for Johnson when Swift was there. I haven't seen if they signed him, I've been traveling the last few days.

[CrackerDog]

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

I didn't know where to put this so I put it here.

The bears met with Jamal Williams that played for Johnson when Swift was there. I haven't seen if they signed him, I've been traveling the last few days.

Nothing final.  Between him and Chubb who would you prefer?   I doubt either will break the bank.  Not sure we need either but depth at the position will keep everyone fresher throughout the season.  

[ASHKUM BEAR]

I'd take Williams, he had 17 tds with Johnson in 2022.  He is a big back,  6-1 225.  We have sonic and need a real boom.

[adam]

I mentioned him in another thread as making a lot of sense considering his time with Johnson AND Swift. 

[Stinger226]

They are checking out what's available but I don't think they sign anybody until they get a feel of what they have.  They could give Williams a vet contact with no guaranteed money. Just to play it safe but they are at their limit of 90 , they would have to cut someone.

[Stinger226]

To get Chubb you have to trade a draft pick, Williams will just be money.

[BearFan PHX]

10 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

To get Chubb you have to trade a draft pick, Williams will just be money.

Chubb is a free agent

[Stinger226]

10 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

Chubb is a free agent

Screwed that up.

[BearFan PHX]

7 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Screwed that up.

no problem, just whoever we like best can be had for a pretty cheap one year deal, if we need them

[Stinger226]

I seen bleacher report Chargers site that had 2 different proposed trades put forth. One was trading for Kmet for a 4th or 5th round pick. Reasoning was drafting Loveland makes Kmet expendable. 

Another one was trading for DJ Moore using the same logic. Drafting Burden means  Moore is expendable. I guess its not just Bears fans that visit LaLa Land during the preseason. 

[adam]

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

I seen bleacher report Chargers site that had 2 different proposed trades put forth. One was trading for Kmet for a 4th or 5th round pick. Reasoning was drafting Loveland makes Kmet expendable. 

Another one was trading for DJ Moore using the same logic. Drafting Burden means  Moore is expendable. I guess its not just Bears fans that visit LaLa Land during the preseason. 

Without knowing if the rookies will even amount to anything, that seems like a risky proposition for the Bears at this point, but I could see Kmet moved before Moore, but not any earlier than the trading deadline. 

Moore is not even in the top 10 for WR AAV, and by next year, his deal will be a bargain AND he is signed for several more years. I would keep him at least thru 2026 or 2027, and that's only if Odunze and Burden rise to their potential. 

 

[BearFan PHX]

54 minutes ago, adam said:

I could see Kmet moved before Moore, but not any earlier than the trading deadline.

 

I think this is likely actually.

In a vacuum, I think Kmet is gone next year. Im not an expert on compensatory picks, so if Im missing something there Im all ears, but if youre gonna lose Kmet next year, you might as well get something for him now. The trade deadline seems likely.

I've been saying Kmet is on the bubble since like January. Now that we have Loveland and Burden, it seems obvious that we will get another inline blocking TE rather than pay Kmet. might as well get something for it.

[Stinger226]

2 hours ago, adam said:

Without knowing if the rookies will even amount to anything, that seems like a risky proposition for the Bears at this point, but I could see Kmet moved before Moore, but not any earlier than the trading deadline. 

Moore is not even in the top 10 for WR AAV, and by next year, his deal will be a bargain AND he is signed for several more years. I would keep him at least thru 2026 or 2027, and that's only if Odunze and Burden rise to their potential. 

 

We have a young QB with a highly successful offensive mind, why get rid of assets before you see what Ben puts together. Niether are leaving anytime soon. Isnt it better to have two high level TEs and 3 high level WRs? The cap wont be a problem until Caleb gets a new contract so why trade or let go of good players. That doesnt make any sense.

[BearFan PHX]

I think the idea is that if you trade Kmet at some point, with the $10M you save off the cap, and with the draft picks you get for trading him, you can help the team more than Kmet will.

If you want an inline blocking TE, they are not hard to find cheaper, and you can add more in other places.

The reason you'd trade Kmet is the same reason you'd trade down in the draft.

[Stinger226]

If you have time this is a very interesting video with Wannstedt. At around 33 minutes. A friend of his runs Pro Scout that every team buys. They rate all players in the NFL.  the last 10 SB winners, there was no blue LTs but every team that won a SB had a blue center. Conclusion was center was the most important OL. 

 

[Stinger226]

11 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think the idea is that if you trade Kmet at some point, with the $10M you save off the cap, and with the draft picks you get for trading him, you can help the team more than Kmet will.

If you want an inline blocking TE, they are not hard to find cheaper, and you can add more in other places.

The reason you'd trade Kmet is the same reason you'd trade down in the draft.

First of all Kmet is not a bad blocker.

Getting rid of the 9th rated TE to get a cheaper choice has risk. (CBS ratings) Say we trade him for a 5th round pick. How many 5th round picks does what he does in his career? 258 recs   2592 yds   19 TDs  Had the best catch rate for a TE with over 50 targets. 47 of 55.

Do you honestly think Ben Johnson wants to trade productive assets because he drafted a TE that might be good in the NFL? Ben likes to play chess with his offense, keep moving assets around so the defense doesnt know what he's going to do. 2 major assets are rookies, so you want to get rid of a proven asset for a better cap space. No logic in that at all. 

 

[Stinger226]

Just seen where Geroge Pickens was traded to Dallas for a 3rd round pick. He's a talented WR but has character issues . Tomlin doesnt get rid of quality players for no reason. I remember a lot of people wanted Poles to take him. He was picked 4 spots after we took Brisker in the 2022 draft. With our dysfuncinal offense the pass few yrs it wouldnt have went well here. 

[BearFan PHX]

8 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

First of all Kmet is not a bad blocker.

You've got to be kidding. Everything I wrote just said that Kmet's role is AS a blocker. I said he could be replaced by another inline blocker.

 

8 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Getting rid of the 9th rated TE to get a cheaper choice has risk. (CBS ratings) Say we trade him for a 5th round pick. How many 5th round picks does what he does in his career? 258 recs   2592 yds   19 TDs  Had the best catch rate for a TE with over 50 targets. 47 of 55.

I dont think he is the 9th best TE. I dont think he is good at getting open either.

As for value, it's not just the pick. If he is as good as you say he is, he will get better than a 5th round pick. If he is only worht a 5th round pick then he isnt the 9th best TE. You gotta pick a lane.

But it's also the $10M in cap space savings (and then #11.6M after that).

I'm not saying he is without value. I am saying you could convert his value into another blocking TE, and have more left over to help the team in other ways. Or you could trade him for an edge or something. And use the money to extend a player, or sign another free agent.

Since you are in the mode of saying people's opinions come from some psychological way of thinking - I think you are too attached to anyone that's on the roster. Good teams get rid of good players to get better.

If you've ever wanted a trade down in the draft, it's the same thing as moving Kmet. You give something of value, to get back something of value. Usually more than one thing.

So my message isnt that Kmet has to go. Im not saying he is terrible and should be on the street. Im saying he is GOOD, but not worth what we pay him, and Id rather have the value somewhere else. I also think the Bears will think that too. Not necessarily today, but ive been saying since january that i dont think Kmet will be on the team next year. So unless the offer is really rich, you wait until Loveland is established, and then you look for moves at the trade deadline, or during the offseason.

[Mongo3451]

21 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

I think the idea is that if you trade Kmet at some point, with the $10M you save off the cap, and with the draft picks you get for trading him, you can help the team more than Kmet will.

If you want an inline blocking TE, they are not hard to find cheaper, and you can add more in other places.

The reason you'd trade Kmet is the same reason you'd trade down in the draft.

Kmet is a classic 3 down TE.  It makes him a little more versatile than a pure inline TE.  I agree that his value isn't in the eight figure range, but he's close.  I also don't believe he's trade bait.  He's not the type of player teams trade for.  Teams will simply draft or sign one in free agency.  His greatest value is with us.

[BearFan PHX]

2 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Kmet is a classic 3 down TE.  It makes him a little more versatile than a pure inline TE.  I agree that his value isn't in the eight figure range, but he's close.  I also don't believe he's trade bait.  He's not the type of player teams trade for.  Teams will simply draft or sign one in free agency.  His greatest value is with us.

We'll see. Like i said, I do agree he has value. But with so many mouths to feed, I suspect he will be gone next year, or maybe even at the trade deadline this year?

I have heard rumors (so who knows whether they are true or not) that the Patriots and Chargers might be interested in Kmet. But I doubt we trade him now - gotta see the rookies do it on the field first.

He just doesnt have any wiggle to get open, and he isnt known for tough contested catches. He gets open in gaps in zone defenses, and catches OK, but i think there are a lot of cheaper guys that can do that and block too? Thats why im saying this. but its not like Leno or Fields. Im not saying he sucks. I just dont think there is much room for him on our team soon.

[Stinger226]

Overview

Long bodied, early entry Y tight end prospect who is a better pass threat than run blocker at this stage. Kmet should continue to fill out his frame, but his run blocking is too scattered and needs better focus and efficiency as a pro. He can be jammed and slowed by early contact into his route, but once he's striding, he becomes a legitimate second-level threat with sneaky separation speed and intriguing ball skills. He's still developing and could be a slow starter headed into the league, but he has the talent to eventually become a solid starter as a pass-catching in-line tight end with the ability to mismatch from the slot with his size.

Strengths

Good size with long arms and more mass likely to be added. Will come across formation and land a blow on wham blocks. Adequate hand placement and runs feet through the block. Nice job of staying connected to base blocks with lateral slides. Gets defenders off of him downfield for catch space. Calm in the air to adjust and bring it in. Can go get the ball wherever it is thrown. Heavy inside his pads with ability to absorb contact. Rumbles after catch, treating tacklers like bumper cars.

Weaknesses

Body control and strength as a blocker need work. Below-average instincts and angles as move blocker. Inefficient and slow getting into block fits. Needs to play with earlier inside hands and rolled hips at point of attack. Too tall coming off the ball and into his routes. Has issues playing through contact within the first five yards. Upright into brakes, allowing defenders to read and jump routes. Questionable hand strength to secure contested catches.

 

He was not drafted as a inline blocker.

GRADE

[BearFan PHX]

17 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

Overview

Long bodied, early entry Y tight end prospect who is a better pass threat than run blocker at this stage. Kmet should continue to fill out his frame, but his run blocking is too scattered and needs better focus and efficiency as a pro. He can be jammed and slowed by early contact into his route, but once he's striding, he becomes a legitimate second-level threat with sneaky separation speed and intriguing ball skills. He's still developing and could be a slow starter headed into the league, but he has the talent to eventually become a solid starter as a pass-catching in-line tight end with the ability to mismatch from the slot with his size.

Strengths

Good size with long arms and more mass likely to be added. Will come across formation and land a blow on wham blocks. Adequate hand placement and runs feet through the block. Nice job of staying connected to base blocks with lateral slides. Gets defenders off of him downfield for catch space. Calm in the air to adjust and bring it in. Can go get the ball wherever it is thrown. Heavy inside his pads with ability to absorb contact. Rumbles after catch, treating tacklers like bumper cars.

Weaknesses

Body control and strength as a blocker need work. Below-average instincts and angles as move blocker. Inefficient and slow getting into block fits. Needs to play with earlier inside hands and rolled hips at point of attack. Too tall coming off the ball and into his routes. Has issues playing through contact within the first five yards. Upright into brakes, allowing defenders to read and jump routes. Questionable hand strength to secure contested catches.

 

He was not drafted as a inline blocker.

GRADE

no, but that is his role now. i agree hes not that good at it. But What i said was you can find an inline blocker cheaper to replace him.

No matter what they said about him coming into the draft, he has gotten better at run blocking, and he has not been a gronkowski type at all. he deosnt get open against man, either with moves or body position. he isnt particularly well known for contested catches either. Hes just a big body that runs like Frankenstein, loping and stiff, and yes against zone, sometimes he is open. That is true for every TE. he doesnt even have particularly soft hands, but if hes open and you throw it to him, he can catch it.

But he isnt a difference maker on 3rd down or anything like that. hes not been a QB safety blanket at all.

He's just a decent average NFL TE. And you can get them cheaper or better yet, on a rookie deal.

I think he is gone next year, or possibly at this years trading deadline. We will see.

I DO think he has a chance to prove himself this year and change this, but i havent seen it from him on tape yet, so until he does, i think he isnt long for this team.

[Stinger226]

Here's a good video, its short. Smart guy

 

[Stinger226]

He hasnt proved himself?

   2023)  73 of 90  719 yds   6 TDs.  He was ranked 9th in the league. He had the best catch rate among TEs in the league 81.2% 

In 2024 again had the best catch rate in the league for TEs. 85.5% . His downturn in performance was because he only got 55 targets. He had a better catch rate than all WRs. There was a handful of RBs that had better catch rates. I atways thought that catching the ball was important. 

I think you need to look at his tape again, I think you missed something.

[BearFan PHX]

funny. you didnt post tape, you posted stats.

Im saying YOU should look at the tape.

Kmet is decent but not great. He doesnt get open vs man coverage, either by moves or west coast style body position. He is stiff, and in only open when there is a hole in the zone.

Why do you think his targets are low? Because he isnt open. Yes, he can catch the ball when he is open and you throw it to him. A lot of guys can. But he isnt worth what we are paying him, especially now with Loveland on the roster.

Time will tell.