Should the Carolina Panthers trade for Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet?
The Carolina Panthers have been named a potential trade suitor for Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet by NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report.
"Teams seeking a quality pass-catching tight end should make a few calls to the Bears in the coming weeks, especially if they're willing to part with a defensive back or edge-rusher who can help Chicago's ongoing defensive rebuild," Knox wrote. "Potential Suitors: Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs."
Kmet is a talented TE, but he could be expendable in Chicago now because the Bears have Colston Loveland.
Kmet finished last season with only 30 receptions for 347 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
The 27-year-old Kmet has been in the NFL since 2020. He has 288 catches for 2,939 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns with the Bears, who traded former Carolina star D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
Kmet's contract was restructured before the 2026 draft to reduce his 2026 cap hit to $7.775 million, while escalating his cap number to $15.425 million for 2027 (the last year of his contract).
The Panthers already have a star playmaker for QB Bryce Young in WR Tetairoa McMillan, who finished his rookie season with 70 catches for 1,014 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Carolina's offense would become more dynamic with Kmet in the fold.
The Bears have made no indication of wanting to move Kmet, who was their top-producing tight end from 2021 to 2024. "Nothing changes as far as our feelings with Cole," general manager Ryan Poles said after the 2026 draft.
Chicago would take on $6.425 million in dead money for 2026 with $1.35 million saved against the cap if it traded Kmet after June 1.
It will be fascinating to see if Carolina pursues a trade for a WR or TE this offseason. Kmet next to McMillan and Young could be fun to watch in Dave Canales' offense, but if you listen to Poles, it appears the Bears are keeping Kmet.
Young finished the 2025 season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
The Panthers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 playoffs' wild-card round at home. Young played well in his playoff debut. The youngster had 264 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
Young enters next season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform. He's 14-30-0 as a starter.
