Bears Free Agents

[ASHKUM BEAR]

30 minutes ago, jason said:

I’d rather have continued OL dominance and Swift, versus a porous OL and Gibbs.

I can see the Bears drafting C/G.  They can use another quality backup if they dont resign McFadden.  Theres a couple 2nd-3rd rd C prospects id be good with in the 3rd. Id like to let a Center learn at least a year while being able to step in if needed.

As for drafting a RB, it'll most likely be a 2027 target, but I predict BJ will want one he can cook with.  We now see why he was rocking crazy after drafting Loveland. I think he has the same desire to find that in a RB.

[jason]

1 hour ago, Mongo3451 said:

I don't see it that way.  While being a big Kmet fan, I don't see him as a bell cow.  He's more of a plow horse.  Loveland is purely different.  He may be the biggest difference maker on the team.  Cole is steady and reliable, but I don't see him consistently winning routes like Colston does.  I really like having them both going forward...

Problem: Kmet was on trajectory to be given bell for targets and stats. He likely won’t want to stay as option 5-6 on the Bears.

[Stinger226]

1 hour ago, jason said:

I don’t think that’s fair to Kmet. He absolutely got screwed in terms of advancement and improved stats when the Bears drafted Loveland, and then made Loveland a primary target. If they hadn’t drafted Loveland, there is no doubt that Kmet would have received a bunch of Loveland’s 80+ targets. I think if the Bears hadn’t drafted Loveland, we would all be talking about Kmet having a huge breakout year, at or near 1000yds.

We judge players by there stats to much. Kmet doesn't get the targets because of many weapons now but consistently has been a league leader in catch rate % . Also a team leader. Clearly we are a better team with both players. 

They will ask him to restructure his contract and he knows he is no longer a primary target. We get cap space and get to keep him. Problem solved.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

3 minutes ago, jason said:

Problem: Kmet was on trajectory to be given bell for targets and stats. He likely won’t want to stay as option 5-6 on the Bears.

He might be a homer and see this out despite his targets.  Seeing his team get closer to the big dance will be hard to walk away from. He was a 2nd option, then they drafted Odunze and signed Keenan the following year and Loveland and Burden the next. He would have to find a team with lesser talent and in this new era NFL, he would be a 3 or 4 at best.

[Mongo3451]

13 minutes ago, jason said:

Problem: Kmet was on trajectory to be given bell for targets and stats. He likely won’t want to stay as option 5-6 on the Bears.

He's under contract for more than he's worth, so what...

[jason]

1 hour ago, Mongo3451 said:

He's under contract for more than he's worth, so what...

My reply was more related to the “bell cow” remark. Had Loveland not been drafted, there is a great chance Kmet is that guy. 

But if the contract is deemed too rich for his production, then it comes down to his choice when asked to restructure. I think he’s likely to choose leaving Chicago hoping to prove he can be the number one, big target TE.

[Stinger226]

4 hours ago, jason said:

My reply was more related to the “bell cow” remark. Had Loveland not been drafted, there is a great chance Kmet is that guy. 

But if the contract is deemed too rich for his production, then it comes down to his choice when asked to restructure. I think he’s likely to choose leaving Chicago hoping to prove he can be the number one, big target TE.

I disagree, why would he want to leave when we very well could go to the SB next year. He doesn't come across to me, he's a me guy. I think after next year, everything is off the table. Why break up a top 3 offense next year and eliminate depth. 

[Mongo3451]

7 hours ago, jason said:

My reply was more related to the “bell cow” remark. Had Loveland not been drafted, there is a great chance Kmet is that guy. 

But if the contract is deemed too rich for his production, then it comes down to his choice when asked to restructure. I think he’s likely to choose leaving Chicago hoping to prove he can be the number one, big target TE.

I understand.  Kmet can be a 70 catch guy.  The thing is, he doesn't have the separation and run after catch ability that makes him special.  Anyway, hopefully he's here for years to come.  I truly think he and Loveland can coexist on 150 targets a year going forward.

[adam]

Looks like Nahshon Wright made the PB as an alternate. Don't know how much that impacts contract negotiations, but it usually does. 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

7 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

I disagree, why would he want to leave when we very well could go to the SB next year. He doesn't come across to me, he's a me guy. I think after next year, everything is off the table. Why break up a top 3 offense next year and eliminate depth. 

IMHO its gonna be hard to justify him staying around on the contract alone, as it currently stands.  With his contract set to expire in 2027 his pay is commiserate to the Top-10 TEs in the game this last year.  His contract currently ranks #8 among TEs tied with Jake Ferguson with the Cowboys and just behind David Njoku with the Browns.  

Production wise he was near the bottom overall:  

(*Note the stats above were from somewhere midseason as I think he finished in the top 5 for total TDS caught by a TE.  Still he ranked low in most all the other categories).

I'm with you in hoping they manage to find a way to keep him (are we both stricken with the good-guy syndrome of liking our players too much?  😉).  I have to believe not only will they find a way to restructure his contract especially given his history as not only a fan of the team growing up but also literally growing up near Chicago...and for all the things you mention.

[BearFan PHX]

Kmet has played well this year. I can see us keeping him. But I dont agree that he is a 1,000 yard receiver if Loveland wasnt here.

Kmet is a good TE2 with better hands than you expect from a TE2, but he doesnt get separation, or run particularly nasty routes. He gets open against zone coverage, when other players take attention from the defense, but he isnt a man beater.

He also blocks pretty well, but he isnt a league leader at that either. All in all hes a decent TE2, and we are paying him a little too much for that.

Is it enough to move on from him? Probably not. I can see us keeping him, but i still dont think he plays up to his cap number.

Last preseason i thought he was gone for sure, but I also said that he (or ANY player) can play themselves into a better situation, and while Kmet hasnt been a world beater, I think he has probably done that this year. Same with Swift.

DJ Moore on the other hand has not. He also has a much bigger number to play up to, but his inconsistent effort is the biggest issue for me. If we are building a culture of accountability, and we are going to ride Odunze for his dropped balls (which we NEED to!) then you cant keep a jogger around or the message is lost.

[Stinger226]

3 hours ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

IMHO its gonna be hard to justify him staying around on the contract alone, as it currently stands.  With his contract set to expire in 2027 his pay is commiserate to the Top-10 TEs in the game this last year.  His contract currently ranks #8 among TEs tied with Jake Ferguson with the Cowboys and just behind David Njoku with the Browns.  

Production wise he was near the bottom overall:  

(*Note the stats above were from somewhere midseason as I think he finished in the top 5 for total TDS caught by a TE.  Still he ranked low in most all the other categories).

I'm with you in hoping they manage to find a way to keep him (are we both stricken with the good-guy syndrome of liking our players too much?  😉).  I have to believe not only will they find a way to restructure his contract especially given his history as not only a fan of the team growing up but also literally growing up near Chicago...and for all the things you mention.

I agree he's is playing below his pay level that's why I think he will take a restructured deal but that doesn't mean doesn't have value. BJ plays 2 TE scheme more than almost any other team. Who's the second TE, a rookie? I doubt it.

[BearFan PHX]

32 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I agree he's is playing below his pay level that's why I think he will take a restructured deal but that doesn't mean doesn't have value. BJ plays 2 TE scheme more than almost any other team. Who's the second TE, a rookie? I doubt it.

I agree with all of this. Id only add that if Kmet somehow quit football, we would have decent options at decent prices to replace him. Not perfect replacements, but decent ones. Durham Smythe has proved a lot this year too, for example.

But Kmet already knows the playbook and has proven certain things to Johnson, so I can see us choosing him from our options, but if a really good trade offer came up, its not as if we couldnt fill the hole?