Cole Kmet earns honorable mention on ESPN’s list of NFL’s top tight ends

ESPN recently surveyed league executives, coaches, scouts and players to rank the NFL’s best at each position entering the 2023 season, and Cole Kmet earned a spot — albeit as an honorable mention — at tight end.

“Big as hell, prototype Y body,” an NFC executive told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “Might be most competitive player on that team. High-end blocking ability but can also get adequate separation as a receiver with an excellent catch radius. Hard to bring down.”

Kmet was among five tight ends who appeared as honorable mentions but didn’t crack the top 10 list. By default, it means Kmet is considered a top-15 tight end in the league. And if the NFL already views him as that caliber of player, he will cash in on a massive second contract in 2024.

Cole Kmet joins Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool as Bears skill players on expiring contracts. Unlike Mooney and Claypool, Kmet had moderate success in 2022. He had 50 catches for 544 yards and seven touchdowns, all team-highs. His seven scores were a single-season career-high.

TJ Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings) is the only NFC North tight end who ranks above Kmet on ESPN’s list (No. 6).

“He’s a good player but nothing dynamic to him in the pass game and average in the run game,” an NFC exec told Folwer of Hockenson. “He’s the classic case of a player that does everything well but nothing exceptional.”

There’s a realistic chance Kmet will end the 2023 season as the best tight end in the NFC North and a guy who’s viewed as a top-10 player at his position. If he does, he can expect a multi-year contract north of $11 million per season to kick off 2024.