The 2023 offseason is officially in full swing, and the Chicago Bears are gearing up for what should be one of the busiest springs in recent memory.
Armed with $98.6 million in cap space, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus will have plenty of opportunities to improve the team roster in free agency, while also needing to make key decisions on which players they should let walk.
Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2023 offseason. Next up is tight end, a position that needs some depth behind Cole Kmet.
Who’s on the roster?
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Cole Kmet
Jake Tonges
Chase Allen
Kmet is coming off a breakout season with the Bears, despite it being a down year in the passing game. Kmet led the Bears in receptions (50), receiving yards (544) and touchdowns (7) — also a career high. More than that, he proved to be the most reliable pass catcher for quarterback Justin Fields. While Kmet certainly needs to improve as a blocker, he’s proven to be a valuable asset for Luke Getsy’s offense. And he’s someone who’s proven to be a security blanket of sorts for Fields. Now, Kmet is heading into a contract year, where he’s one of three members from the 2020 draft class expected to earn contract extensions.
The other tight ends on the roster are last year’s undrafted rookies, Tonges and Allen, who spent most of the 2022 season on the practice squad. Tonges appeared in four games, where he saw limited action, while Allen appeared in one game against the Bills. Tonges and Allen should provide depth and serve as training camp bodies. But they’re not expected to impact contributors in 2023.
Who’s slated to hit free agency?
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While Kmet had an impressive season, there was a significant drop-off from him to backs Griffin and Wesco. Griffin was signed in free agency with the expectation that he would be Kmet’s primary backup. Unfortunately, Griffin failed to get…
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