Cole Kmet Reacts to Bears Drafting Colston Loveland in First Round
Cole Kmet Reacts to Bears Drafting Colston Loveland in First Round originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Position battles are heating up across the Chicago Bears roster, but one situation in particular stands out in the tight end room. With mandatory mini camp underway, one veteran didn't hide his reaction to a major organizational decision. After five seasons with the Bears, including a leadership role on and off the field, he found himself in unfamiliar territory after a high-profile draft move signaled a shift in strategy.
Advertisement
Cole Kmet, the five-year veteran tight end drafted in the second round back in 2020, was candid when asked about the Bears' decision to select Colston Loveland 10th overall in this year's draft. Kmet's comments came after the first day of mini camp and were shared by Dave, Senior NFL Writer for SM, on X (formerly Twitter).
'I think at first you're taken aback a little bit,' Kmet admitted. 'But Ben [Johnson] was awesome about it in terms of calling me right away and kind of explaining the decision. From there, you're just all on board on it.'
He continued:
'You understand that there's going to be areas where we complement each other, and then there's obviously… areas where we compete for things. And that's football and that's how it should be.' 'The goal with it is to become the best 12-tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there.'
Last season, Kmet posted 47 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns—a noticeable drop from prior years. Meanwhile, Loveland, though currently recovering from shoulder surgery, arrives as a mismatch nightmare out of Michigan, known for his route-running and after-catch ability.
Ben JohnsonGetty Images
If the Bears' vision pans out, the pairing could become one of the most dangerous tight end duos in the league. The added competition should elevate both players—something the new coaching staff under Ben Johnson is clearly counting on.
Advertisement
Related: Chicago Bears Rookie Shakes Up Competition, Major Role Within Reach
Related: Chicago Bears Named Potential Landing Spot for Pro Bowl Running Back
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Tyler Loop is already putting his big leg on display as he works to replace Justin Tucker
Tyler Loop is already putting his big leg on display as he works to replace Justin Tucker Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop has been booming 60 yard kicks and is having no problem adjusting to the NFL, per head coach John Harbaugh. Justin Tucker has an uncertain future in the NFL, and with his play diminishing, Baltimore decided to move on. The Ravens drafted a kicker for the first time in their 30-year history. Baltimore selected Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the 6th round (No. 186 overall). Through three weeks of OTAs, Loop has looked like the best kicker on the roster, and he's left head coach John Harbaugh impressed by his big leg and efficiency. Loop went 6-9 on kicks from 50+ yards last season for the Wildcats and has arguably the biggest leg in this year's class, making a school record 62-yard field goal at Arizona and converting 63 of 80 career field goal attempts (83.8%). Tucker, 35, is a seven-time Pro Bowl player and the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He was the longest-tenured player on the Ravens and the last remaining player from their 2012 Super Bowl championship team.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Trade Messages After Win Against Panthers
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Trade Messages After Win Against Panthers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Edmonton Oilers opened the 2025 Stanley Cup Final with a comeback win over the Florida Panthers, erasing a two-goal deficit to secure a 4–3 overtime victory. Advertisement Game 1 saw Edmonton strike first through Leon Draisaitl, but fall behind 3–1 shortly into the second period before clawing back with goals from Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm. Then, on a late power play in overtime, Draisaitl ended the game, assisted by Oilers captain Connor McDavid. The goal capped off a night that saw both Draisaitl and McDavid deliver multi-point performances. McDavid set up the game-tying and game-winning goals while Draisaitl scored both the opening and closing goals of Game 1. Both teammates shared the podium to address the media after the game. Draisaitl spoke about the buildup to the winning play. Advertisement "I'm standing over there watching this whole thing unfold, and I'm the beneficiary," Draisaitl said. "But the work is done way before that. Perrs with a great play to Dave-O, and then an amazing pass over to me." McDavid, meanwhile, was equally complimentary of his longtime teammate. "You can't put a number on it. He's invaluable," McDavid said when asked how he'd quantify Draisaitl's postseason to date. "So many good things, clutch, faceoffs. You name it, he does it. Doesn't get enough respect or credit for his defensive abilities. "When he's dug in, there's not many better. Maybe nobody better." Perry Nelson-Imagn Images Draisaitl's finish delivered Edmonton its first Stanley Cup Final series lead since 1990, per Frank Seravalli. Advertisement The Panthers' loss also dropped them to 0–1 in the series after they never trailed during last year's Stanley Cup Final, only allowing the Oilers to tie the finals at 3-3 before Florida won Game 7. Game 2 is set for Friday night in Edmonton, with puck drop scheduled at 8 p.m. ET. Related: Connor McDavid's Wife Has Three-Letter Reaction to Oilers' Win Against Panthers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Evander Kane's Blunt Take on Zach Hyman's Injury Before Oilers-Panthers
Evander Kane's Blunt Take on Zach Hyman's Injury Before Oilers-Panthers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Edmonton Oilers are preparing for a rematch with the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final without one of their most consistent contributors. Advertisement Forward Zach Hyman, who suffered an upper-body injury in Game 4 of the Western Conference final, will not return for the remainder of the postseason. Hyman underwent surgery after a collision with Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment, and Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed the news of his expected absence before Edmonton clinched a finals berth in Game 5. "Zach's season is most likely done," Knoblauch said. "He's getting surgery today and it'll be a while, so we're not expecting him back for the playoffs." Hyman had five goals and six assists for 11 points in 15 playoff games and leads the postseason field in hits with 111. During the regular season, he was second on the team goals, behind only Leon Draisaitl. Advertisement The loss leaves a significant gap in Edmonton's lineup, and Oilers forward Evander Kane acknowledged the damage that it will cause. "He's a player that's leading the league in hits in the postseason," Kane said. "He's physical. He can score. "And not only does he score, he scores big goals, you know, he scores at clutch times, which obviously is a great asset to any team." Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman skates in warmups before a game against the Dallas Nelson-Imagn Images Ultimately, Kane believes that the team's deep roster gives the Oilers the tools to compete without Hyman. "We have a lot more depth throughout the entirety of our lineup," Kane said. "If we need scoring, we have scoring. If we need to be more physical, we can be more physical." Advertisement Kane, however, closed by noting the unavoidable challenge the team now faces. "Unfortunately, we're going to have to use that depth," Kane said. "We're going to have to get the job done without him." Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET in Edmonton. Related: Don Cherry Doubles Down on Stanley Cup Final Winner Pick Related: Oilers' Leon Draisaitl Issues Warning to Panthers Before Stanley Cup Final This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
