Bears GM Ryan Poles addresses the future plans regarding Cole Kmet following the selection of Sam Roush in the third-round
The Chicago Bears made a stunning decision in the third-round of the 2026 NFL Draft selecting Stanford tight end Sam Roush opening up a major question regarding veteran tight end Cole Kmet.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson made some major swings on offense during Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft adding a long-term center in Logan Jones, a new tight end in Sam Roush, and a speedy wide receiver in Zavion Thomas.
The selection of Roush was the most eye-opening, outside of the obvious reach for Thomas. The reason why is because the Bears already have invested significant resources into the position between veteran Cole Kmet and 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland.
At first glance, many assumed Kmet’s time in Chicago was numbered after the team drafted Roush. However, that’s not the case, at least for now.
Ryan Poles confirms Cole Kmet’s status with the team is safe for 2026 after drafting Sam Roush
“We do a good job, between Ben and I, we communicate really well just to give those guys a heads up and let them know what the role and situation is,” Poles told reporters Friday night. “Nothing changes for Cole. Our feelings for Cole doesn’t change.”
So, why did the Bears draft Roush in the third-round? Great question. The main reason, as Poles elaborated further, is because the Bears were top-five in 12 and 13 personnel usage under Johnson’s offense in 2025. This scheme loves using multiple tight ends around the formation and getting creative with those guys in the pass and run game.
After losing veteran Durham Smythe, the Bears lost an integral part of their offense that many overlooked. By adding Roush, the Bears get a traditional Y-TE that can be an in-line blocker and has exciting athletic traits to work with in the passing game.
Cole Kmet’s future is secure in Chicago, but for how long?
On the first day of the draft, Poles quietly made two contract restructures and one of which was with Kmet. The Bears converted $7.65 million of his 2026 salary into bonus, reducing his cap number to $7.775 million. However, that move means his cap number next season is set to raise to $15.425 million, which will be the final year of his contract.
Having a higher cap hit in 2027 will be tricky for the Bears to manage. Trading or cutting Kmet after the 2026 season would save the team $10 million. So, needless to say, Kmet’s role will be under the microscope in 2026 with Roush now in the fold.
While the Bears could, in theory, extend Kmet and continue rolling with these three tight ends for years to come, it could be a lot of money tied into the position. For the sake of 2026, Kmet will remain in Chicago but who’s to say Roush doesn’t push him off the roster after Year 1 like Luther Burden III did to DJ Moore this offseason?
