Bears and Cole Kmet agree on multi-million dollar contract extension

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet was one of the NFL's best tight ends over the back half of the 2022 season, but little did he know his performance would lead to the four-year, $50 million contract extension he'd sign on the second day of training camp. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal includes $32.8 […]

Evan Winter — NFL Managing Editor

Jul 26, 2023 12:23 PM EDT

Nov 13, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) celebrates with Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85, left, after he runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Soldier Field.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal includes $32.8 million in guaranteed money and Kmet will make $20 million in new, first-year cash.

Another deal: Bears and TE Cole Kmet reached agreement on a four-year, $50 million extension, including $32.8 million guaranteed and $20 million in new first-year cash, per me and @FieldYates.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2023

Kmet finished tied for the fifth-most receptions (36), he finished with the sixth-most receiving yards (385), and he caught the second-most touchdowns (6) among all tight ends from Weeks 9-18. And that span includes the Bears' Week 14 bye.

In other words: Kmet could've had even bigger numbers if the Bears had their bye week before Week 9.

Now, Justin Fields has one of his favorite weapons around the foreseeable future as the Bears continue to build what they hope becomes their playoff core.