The Chicago Bears are coming off a great 2025 season, where they won the NFC North and a playoff game, in a huge leap forward for the Caleb Williams era.
But now, the Bears have some difficult offseason decisions to make. With tight cap space, the Bears need to consider moving on from some veterans, including on the offensive side of the ball.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox proposed one trade to help clear some money, one that would ship off a $50 million receiving threat in Cole Kmet to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a Day 3 draft pick.
Bears trade proposal sends Cole Kmet to Buccaneers for fifth-round pick
“Buccaneers Get: TE Cole Kmet. Bears Get: 2026 5th-round pick,” Knox proposed.
This trade idea would clear a good amount of cap space for the Bears, saving $8.4 million and clearing the way for the Bears to make other, more pressing moves.
Kmet has been a fine player for the Bears since being drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. But the veteran tight end will be 27 years old in 2026, and won’t be the starter.
Being on such a big contract, worth $12.5 million per season, and not even being the starter thanks to top-10 draft pick Colston Loveland, the Bears have little reason to hold onto Kmet this offseason.
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He’s even a potential cut candidate. While the 2026 fifth-round pick isn’t the best return, it’s better than simply letting him go in a release.
This trade proposal with the Buccaneers might not make the most sense from Tampa Bay’s perspective, as there are cheaper and younger tight ends available.
But, if the TE with 2,939 career receiving yards can bring home value in a trade, it’s a move the Ryan Poles should jump all over.
