The Bears Help Secure Their Offensive Future With This Extension

Per Adam Schefter and Field Yates, the Chicago Bears have extended tight end Cole Kmet. The extension is a four-year $50 million with $32 million guaranteed.

Cole has become a favorite target for the quarterback Justin Fields amassing 544 yards and seven touchdowns, which led the team in both statistics. The Bears drafted the Notre Dame product back in the second round of the 2020 draft, a year before they drafted Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick.

What does this mean though for Kmet and for Chicago? Let's break it down.

Starting with Cole, it offers a deal that makes him the fifth highest-paid tight end for guaranteed money. That's more than fair for a guy who is a well-rounded athlete but doesn't have an elite skill set he's known for. He's a strong blocker in the run game and is a threat in the red zone with his frame. Hence why he led the Bears in receiving touchdowns and has become a target in the red zone for Fields. For Justin to evolve as a thrower, keeping Kmet was a must.

What does it offer for the Bears? It offers continuity and a guy who just turned 24 back in March and hasn't even reached his full potential as a NFL player, yet. It's also a very team-friendly deal in the fact that it's a back-loaded contract offering the Bears a potential out in 2025 with only a $4.8 million cap hit. If the Bears decided to part ways with him.

This comes as no surprise since the Bears are trying to build a culture of continuity and hard work. A move like this helps them balance the pursuit of new talent and the retention of their current playmakers. Who better to help that process than the 6'6 260 guy who grew up a die-hard Bears fan?

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