Could the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears pull off this interesting trade?
The Carolina Panthers could definitely stand to add some more weapons for Bryce Young this offseason, especially after Young showed some very positive signs during the second half of 2025.
The Panthers have decided to exercise Young's fifth-year option on his rookie contract, and while they haven't necessarily committed to him as their franchise quarterback just yet, they seem to feel better about his future.
Carolina has Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker at wide receiver, but not a whole lot else in terms of proven playmakers in the aerial attack, so it is expected to make a move to further assist Young in the coming months.
While the Panthers may look to add another piece in the NFL Draft, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox feels that Carolina could explore the trade route, naming Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet as a possibility for the squad.
"Kmet isn't likely to bring a sizeable return, in part because tight ends like Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, Isaiah Likely, and David Njoku are slated to hit free agency. However, he will interest teams in need of a pass-catching tight end," Knox wrote.
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet. Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images.Kmet has fallen out of favor in Chicago over the last couple of seasons, and when the Bears drafted fellow tight end Colston Loveland last April, the writing was essentially on the wall for Kmet.
The 26-year-old logged 30 catches for 347 yards and a couple of touchdowns in 2025, but there was a time when Kmet was actually one of the Bears' top weapons.
Back in 2023, Kmet hauled in 73 receptions for 719 yards and six scores and appeared to be one of the top up and coming tight ends in football.
However, ever since Caleb Williams' arrival, Kmet's role has been diminished, and it's looking more and more like his time in Chicago is coming to an end.
Kmet was originally selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has two years remaining on his contract. He carries back-to-back $11.6 million cap hits for 2026 and 2027, so he is not incredibly expensive.
The Panthers have drafted a couple of tight ends of their own the last couple of years, bagging Ja'Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans, but Sanders has been hampered by injuries and Evans has yet to get much of an opportunity.
Perhaps Kmet could be the answer that Carolina needs at the position.
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