Trade Pitch Moves Bears' Cole Kmet to Patriots

In selecting Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots committed their immediate future to the up-and-coming quarterback.

Surrounding Maye with weapons in the passing game has been the team's next step towards becoming increasingly competitive in the AFC East, and it accomplished that goal by signing star wideout Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract earlier in the offseason.

Pro Football Network's Brandon Austin believes Diggs' signing alone will not be enough and that the Patriots should continue adding to their armory ahead of the regular season. If the team decides to utilize the trade market rather than signing a free agent, Austin recommends they go after Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet.

Austin argues there are two factors at work that make a potential deal between the Patriots and the Bears mutually beneficial. First, there is a chance Kmet could fall further down the Bears' depth chart after the team similarly made acquiring offensive talent a priority during the offseason. 

"The Bears selected Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall [in the 2025 NFL Draft], making him the first tight end off the board. Loveland brings elite receiving upside and a strong foundation from Michigan’s pro-style offense," Austin wrote. "While [Bears head coach Ben] Johnson utilized multi-tight end sets at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL last season (42.5%) with Detroit, the Bears also added receiver Luther Burden III in the second round and have multiple veteran pass catchers."

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) reacts after making a touchdown catch against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter at Soldier Field.

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Second, as both the Patriots' top tight ends increase in age, trading for a player closer to his prime may lead to more production, in addition to financial incentives.

"With Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper both 30 years old, Kmet is a younger option with more long-term upside," Austin wrote. "A post-June 1 trade would free up $10 million in cap space, with minimal dead money ($1.6 million annually for the next three seasons).

Kmet has been a reliable pass-catching option for the Chicago Bears over the last five seasons since the team selected him with one of their second-round picks (No. 43 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft. Over the course of his professional career, Kmet has caught 258 passes for 2,592 yards and 19 touchdowns, while serving as the Bears' starting tight end for 76 of the 84 games he has appeared in.

Last year was a down year for Kmet from a statistical standpoint, as his 55 targets, 47 catches, and 474 receiving yards represented career lows since his rookie season. He remains an effective blocker, though, as he led all Bears tight ends last year with a 60.6 blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.