Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet thinks incoming rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is going to be set up perfectly in his debut campaign.
During a recent appearance on the Up & Adams Show, Kmet told host Kay Adams that he is pumped to get going in 2024 and says that the foundation is in place for Williams to succeed.
“It’s exciting,” Kmet said. “We’ve got a lot of young, talented players, and I think for the first time in a long time — I don’t even know if it’s ever happened — we have an infrastructure in place for a high-end, talented rookie quarterback to come in.”
The Bears took Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft late last month, so big things are expected from the USC product.
Fortunately for Williams, Chicago added Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze to its receiving corps this offseason, giving the team a formidable trio that also includes DJ Moore.
Plus, the Bears signed running back D’Andre Swift and fellow tight end Gerald Everett in free agency. It helps that the club is solid defensively, too.
“Obviously, Caleb is highly touted. He’s been that way for a long time now,” added Kmet. “He gets to go in a situation with a lot of veteran, quality, good players and also a really good defense.”
Kmet is coming off of an impressive 2023 campaign in which he played every game and hauled in 73 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Notre Dame, was selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Kmet had a rather uneventful rookie season, but broke through in his sophomore campaign by catching 60 passes for 612 yards. He then snared 50 balls for 544 yards and seven scores in 2022.
He may end up representing a security blanket for Williams on short passes next season.
Williams threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 68.6 percent of his passes during his final year at USC. He also punched in 11 rushing scores.
The 22-yearoold began his collegiate career at Oklahoma in 2021, but transferred to the Trojans the following year. He totaled 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and five picks while completing 66.6 percent of his throws and reaching the end zone 10 times as a rusher during his debut season at Southern California.
Chicago finished 7-10 in 2023, although it did go a respectable 7-6 over its final 13 games after beginning the season 0-4.
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