Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet are now teammates. And while the Chicago Bears likely improved their tight end room, the new omelet risked breaking some eggs. Few players quietly welcome the addition of a premium rookie to their position group.
With new rookies come the unspoken risk of being pushed out. That threat isn’t ideal in most situations, and Kmet isn’t immune to those insecurities. Now, he’s finally addressed how he feels about the Bears’ rookie addition this week.
Cole Kmet Claims Limits Exist on Competition With Colston Loveland
According to a June 3 article from the Chicago Sun-Times, Kmet admitted he didn’t like the pick at first. But offensive coordinator Ben Johnson explained the decision and got Kmet on board.
“At first, you’re a little taken aback,” Kmet said. “From [the explanation], you’re all on board on it and kind of understand their vision. You understand that there’s going to be areas where we complement each other, and obviously, just like [in] any position room, there’s going to be areas [where] we compete for things. That’s football, and that’s how it should be.”
Still, it’s fair for skeptics to question Kmet’s comments. There’s clearly a competition brewing. And if Loveland starts to win those battles, nothing is stopping Johnson from firing up a new one. No matter what’s said behind closed doors, drafting another tight end suggests Kmet may be on thinner ice than advertised.
Loveland’s College Production Sets High Bar for Kmet
Right now, Kmet probably holds the edge due to experience. He’s been producing with the Bears since 2020 and knows the offense and locker room inside and out.
Loveland, on the other hand, is starting from zero. But his college résumé is already more impressive than Kmet’s coming into the league. Loveland racked up more than 1,400 receiving yards over three seasons. Kmet had just 691.
#Bears TE Cole Kmet said he was initially “taken aback” when the Bears selected TE Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick.
Kmet added that Coach Johnson was great about calling him quickly, to explain why they made the pick and what the vision was.
Cole said he looks… pic.twitter.com/AN0px7fVJe— Herb Howard (@HerbHoward411) June 3, 2025
Loveland didn’t just double the yardage. He nearly doubled Kmet’s career touchdown total, too. So all signs are pointing up for the rookie.
With a limited competition apparently underway, the question now is who’s going to have firmer footing with the Bears three years from now: Loveland or Kmet? Right now, the arrow is pointing toward Loveland.
But it’s not too late for Kmet to remind the Bears why they’ve trusted him for the last five seasons.
Can he win back their full confidence?