In February, Pop Crave reported that Cole Kmet told his agency he was ready for a change. The Chicago Bears tight end believes he can be a TE1 on a less crowded roster.Apart from Kmet, Ben Johnson’s franchise also includes rookie Colston Loveland, whom he drafted as no. The 10th overall pick in 2025, plus Durham Smythe, Stephen Karlsson and Nikola Kalinic. But that was a picture from February. Now the scenario has changed. Smith went to the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens, where he could get Mark Andrews as the TE1. Either way, the roster still includes Karlsson and Kalinic, but both were signed to reserve/future contracts through January 2026. It may seem crowded for Cole Kmet since the newbie has taken his place.And so, trade rumors have begun to circulate on the internet, with some suggesting Chicago TE Brock Purdy as a trade option to the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round selection. Why Niners? Therefore, their star TE, George Kittle, may take some time to recover.
nfl trade rumors : Brock Purdy’s 49ers linked to Bears TE Cole Kmet
Max Dibble of Heavy Sports reports that Chicago could use one of their three compensatory picks on Kmet by trading him to San Francisco to acquire fourth-round pick No. 133. As long as Kittle recovers, he could serve as a one-year stopgap tight end for the Niners. Kittle suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in the Wild Card round of the 2025 season against the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2026. His recovery timeline puts him on track for a midseason return in 2026. However, he told reporters in January 2026 that he planned to return “well before November”.Then, in a March 2026 Bussin’ with the Boys podcast appearance, Kittle shared that rehabilitation was going great and that he would be off the crutches in a week or two (approximately). April 2026). A typical recovery timeline takes about 9 to 12 months, so he may not be back until Week 1. The Niners may be looking for a steady and reliable backup. And that’s where Chicago’s Cole Kmet comes in.
Chicago Coal could trade or restructure Kmet’s contract
Dibble reports that the Bears currently have $1 million in cap space. They need the cap room to sign draft picks next month. A Kmet trade could save the Bears approximately $10M in cap space each of the next two seasons, provided they make the move after June 1.The franchise has reportedly found Cole Kmet’s successor in Loveland, especially after they elevated him to the TE1 role as a rookie.Bleacher Report’s Christopher Knox reports that Kmet could be one of some of the most notable NFL cut candidates after early free agency. Knox suggests they could trade him or restructure his contract instead of releasing him. Despite being a reliable contributor, the 27-year-old was replaced by a rookie in 2025. The veteran recorded 347 yards and two touchdowns, while the rookie amassed a team-high 713 receiving yards. Knox reports that the Bears spent heavily to improve their 2025 defense by adding defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, linebackers Jack Sanborn and Devin Bush and safety Kobe Bryant. This leaves them with a league-low $1M of cap space. Kmet still has two years remaining on his four-year, $50M contract extension. If Chicago can’t restructure or find a trade franchise for him, they can release him after June 1 and save $9 million. A release before June 1 would clear approximately $7.4M of cap space. If they find some depth behind Loveland in the draft they could release him. Knox suggests that Kmet is ideal for any team that needs a pass-catching tight end. He caught 288 passes for 2,939 yards and 21 touchdowns over six seasons. According to Spotrac, the Notre Dame alumnus is scheduled to earn an $8.9M base salary, a $1M roster bonus and a $100K workout bonus in 2026, while carrying an $11.6M cap hit and $4.2M in dead cap value. His career net worth is over $39M. Will Kmet be traded? remains to be seen…
