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5 breakout stars to watch for Chicago Bears in 2021

By Mike Phillips

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: David Montgomery #32 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball in the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: David Montgomery #32 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball in the fourth quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 20: Cole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 20: Cole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

3. Chicago Bears breakout stars – TE Cole Kmet

One of the biggest running jokes with the Bears entering the 2020 season was how many tight ends they had acquired. Chicago couldn’t resist adding more tight ends to the mix, including starter Jimmy Graham and second-round pick Cole Kmet, but the intriguing player to watch in 2021 is the second-year man out of Notre Dame.

Graham began the season as the starter but Kmet started to earn more work in the second half of the year, recording 23 of his 28 catches after the calendar flipped to November. Kmet’s target share also increased significantly down the stretch, a sign of the trust he was building with Trubisky under center.

An imposing presence at 6-foot-6, Kmet was lauded for his blocking skills coming out of college but the question always was whether he would make enough of an impact on offense to become a star tight end. The numbers that Kmet put up weren’t earth-shattering but they did offer some hope that he can at least be a serviceable weapon for the Bears in 2021.

If Kmet is able to become a reliable red-zone target for Chicago it will do wonders for the Bears’ offense this season. Finding a way to help Kmet become a key part of the offense would be big for Chicago’s 2021 postseason hopes.

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