Bears fans would love to forget how the 2024 season played out for the Monsters of the Midway. All the optimism heading into last season derailed during one moment in Washington D.C. and the Bears tanked after that, finishing the season at 5-12.

Many players had down years in terms of stats, including fifth-year tight end Cole Kmet. Kmet played in 17 games for the Bears and had 47 catches, 474 yards and 4 touchdowns.

After the Bears hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their head coach in the offseason, expectations for the offense are high. The Bears revamped their offensive line by acquiring Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney and signed Drew Dalman. They also signed defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles and Co. currently own the No. 10 overall draft pick in the NFL Draft. Mock drafts have various directions on where the Bears can go with the No. 10 pick following a productive free-agency period.

[Caleb Williams ascent is key to making Bears free agency moves work]

One of the biggest needs the Bears have reside on the offensive and defensive lines. But could Johnson and Poles select a skill position such as tight end?

The Bears signed veteran tight end Durham Smythe to a one-year contract to provide depth at that position. With Smythe and Kmet in Johnson’s system, could the Bears add another tight end to the offense. If so, what does this mean for Kmet in 2025?

On the most recent episode of the Bears on the Marquee podcast, Carmen Vitali shared whether or not Ben Johnson can unleash Kmet’s potential in 2025.

“Can Ben Johnson unlock a higher ceiling of Cole Kmet?” Vitali said. “I absolutely think so. If you’re talking about a guy like Sam LaPorta, Cole Kmet is just enough like that kind of player that getting another one of (tight ends in the draft) is going to be a little redundant. It’s kind of a tough spot that they’re in.

“That’s something that I’d be interested to know that they’re thinking on and inevitably they wait on…When you’re talking about what a tight end can be in Ben Johnson’s system, I don’t know that you want to put a cap on it and that would require another player coming in.”

Johnson was on the coaching staff that drafted Sam LaPorta back in 2023. In his two seasons, LaPorta has been a viable target for the Lions passing game. He already had 146 receptions, 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career.

If Johnson has the opportunity to unlock Kmet’s potential, Bair believes that Kmet is a productive player who can be utilized in the right system.

“I think he can be a dynamic player when used appropriately. I don’t think he was used appropriately last season,” Bair said. “As you mentioned in 12 personnel, Ben Johnson likes 12 personnel. He really does. So you need multiple, dynamic tight ends and you need versatile tight ends.

“Do you need a highly drafted tight end? Probably not. … You can kick the can down the road and play the waiting game, Cole Kmet is a very good tight end with who is a very capable receiver. That’s not a ‘top need.'”

New episodes of the Bears on the Marquee Podcast air each Tuesday.

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