Cole Kmet had the best season of his career after receiving a four-year extension in August of 2023. In 2023, Kmet set new career highs in receiving yards (719) and receptions (73). He also hauled in six touchdowns, one shy of his career-high back in 2022. This past season, Kmet ranked 2nd on the Bears in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receiving first downs (DJ Moore was first in every racing category). Kmet’s outstanding season proved him worthy of his $50 million extension. But while Kmet succeeded, the rest of the tight end room failed miserably.
Tonyan had an impressive five-year stint with the Green Bay Packers. He accumulated 137 catches for 1,437 yards and 17 touchdowns as a Packer. The Bears signed Robert Tonyan to a one-year, $1.65 million contract in March of 2023, and he had a very disappointing season. Tonyan caught only 11 passes for 112 yards and zero touchdowns. The nail in the coffin for Tonyan occurred in week 15. Chicago was on the road in Cleveland, and the game was tied 0-0 with four minutes and 14 seconds left in the first quarter. Justin Fields took the snap, rolled to his right, and threw a beautiful deep ball to a wide-open Tonyan, and he dropped it! That play could’ve been a 73-yard touchdown or, at worst, a forty-yard chunk play. Instead, the Bears punted five plays later. The Bears might’ve won the game versus the Browns if not for Tonyan’s unforgivable mistake.
Mercedes Lewis was the third tight end on the Bears’ roster. He contributed 29 yards and a touchdown on just four catches. Lewis is already 39 years old; even if the Bears bring him back next season, he will barely make an impact.
Why do the Bears need another tight end?
While most Bears’ fans are stuck in the “Justin Fields or draft a QB” debate, the Bears have other needs such as wide receiver, edge rusher, center, and tight end.
The main reason the Bears need a tight end boils down to their new offensive coordinator. According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, Shane Waldron ranked fourth in the NFL in using multiple tight ends (03, 12, 13, 22, and 23 personnel) from 2022 to 2023. Waldron often used two tight ends while in the pistol formation to run the ball and set up play-action passes.
Nowadays, NFL playoff teams usually always have a star tight end. The Kansas City Chiefs have Travis Kelce, the San Francisco 49ers have George Kittle, the Baltimore Ravens have Mark Andrews, and the Cleveland Browns have David Njoku. The Buffalo Bills used a third-round pick on Dawson Knox in 2019 and a first-round pick on Dalton Kincaid in 2023. Both Knox and Kincaid have had great careers so far.
Besides Kmet, the NFC North is filled with its own current and future star tight ends. The Minnesota Vikings acquired TJ Hockenson from the Detroit Lions. In 2023, The Green Bay Packers spent a second-round pick on Luke Musgrave and a third-round pick on Tucker Kraft. Musgrave contributed 34 receptions, 352 receiving yards, and one touchdown, while Kraft had 31 receptions, 355 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. If the Bears want an example of a tight end having a stellar rookie season, they should look no further than the Lions. Detroit drafted Sam LaPorta in the second round of last year’s draft, and he had a tremendous rookie year. LaPorta caught 86 passes for 889 yards and ten touchdowns in the regular season. He also caught 21 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown across Detriot’s three playoff games.
How can the Bears get another great tight end on their roster?
Ryan Poles shouldn’t have any trouble finding another tight end. The Bears have multiple options to acquire another tight end in free agency or the draft.
Option 1: Draft Brock Bowers
Brock Bowers was a three-year starter at the University of Georgia. In his time at Georgia, he hauled in 175 receptions for 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 19 times for 193 yards and five touchdowns. Brock Bowers ranked first on the Bulldogs in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in all three of his years in the program.
Bowers shows up in big games. He totaled 273 yards across three SEC Championship Games, and three of Bowers’ 31 career touchdowns came in the College Football Playoff. He helped the Bulldogs win two National Championships.
Bowers won the John Mackey Award twice, an honor bestowed to the best tight end in college football. He was also named to the Associated Press’ 2023 All-American Team.
Bowers is six-foot-four and weighs 240 pounds. The Georgia phenom has great speed and athleticism. Bowers breaks tackles, makes defenders miss in the open field, tracks the ball in the air, makes one-handed catches and contested catches. Bowers can play on the line of scrimmage or as a slot receiver. He is the complete package.
Bowers is a lock to be a Top-15 pick in this year’s draft. Many analysts predict that three quarterbacks, three wide receivers, and two offensive tackles will go off the board with the first eight picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. If so, Bowers will be an option for the Bears if they stay put at ninth overall. Bowers is viewed by many to be the next Goerge Kittle. That’s high praise for a guy that’s still 21 years old. The potential pairing of Kmet and Bowers would only be topped by Baltimore’s duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.
Option 2: Sign Noah Fant
Noah Fant was part of the infamous trade that sent Russell Wilson to Denver. Fant spent two years in Seattle with new Bears’ offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Under Waldron, Fant compiled 82 receptions, 900 receiving yards and four touchdowns. In his five-year career, Fant has amassed 252 receptions, 2,805 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns. According to Over the Cap, Fant’s next contract would earn him about $7.5 million per year, but he will probably cost more. Still, the 26-year-old would be a great addition to Chicago’s offense.
Option 3: Sign Colby Parkinson
Colby Parkinson is the tallest tight end on the list, at six-foot-seven. He has spent all four years of his professional career in Seattle. He had to sit behind Will Dissly, Greg Olsen, Gerald Everett, and Fant during that time.
Parkinson struggled for the first two years of his career, only catching seven passes for 49 yards. Parkinson’s best season came in 2022 when he accounted for 25 receptions, 322 yards, and two touchdowns. Last season, he contributed 25 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Parkinson’s production throughout his career was limited by Seattle’s other offensive weapons, like DJ Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The 25-year-old could come to Chicago and make an impact. According to Spotrac, Parkinson’s next contract would earn him about $6.6 million per year.
Option 4: Sign Gerald Everett
From 2017 to 2020, Gerald Everett was the second-string tight end for the Los Angeles Rams. Shane Waldron was the Rams’ tight ends coach during those three seasons. When Waldron became Seattle’s offensive coordinator, the Seahawks signed Everett to a one-year deal. In five seasons under Waldron, Everett caught 175 passes for 1,867 and 12 touchdowns. In his seven-year career, he has totaled 284 receptions, 2,833 receiving yards, and 19 touchdowns.
Although Everett is a much better player than Parkinson, he has some negatives. He will turn 30 in July, and according to Spotrac, his market value is $8.6 million. Chicago probably won’t dish out that much money for a player of Everett’s age just for him to play behind Kmet.
Option 5: Draft Ben Sinnott
Ben Sinnott was a two-year starter for the Kansas State Wildcats. He was a fullback during his freshman year but moved to tight end as a sophomore. Sinnott is very similar to Noah Fant in terms of build. They are both six-foot-four, but Sinnott is four pounds lighter. Here is how the two compared in college:
Fant- 30 games, 78 receptions, 1,083 receiving yards, 19 receiving touchdowns, four carries, and zero rushing yards
Sinnott- 38 games, 82 receptions, 1,138 receiving yards, ten receiving touchdowns, three carries, 12 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown
Sinnott’s background as a fullback makes him a great blocking tight end, but he can do so much more. Sinnott’s athleticism makes him a good route runner and allows him to make contested catches. He has the ability to hurdle defenders and the tendency to fight for extra yards. Waldron could do a lot with Sinnott in terms of formations and play-calling. He could have Sinnott block, run go routes up the seam, wheel routes up the sideline, or even call his number for a tight end screen. Sinnott is projected to be selected in the fourth or fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
