Cole Kmet wasn’t necessarily thrilled when the Bears drafted another tight end with the No. 10 overall pick in April.
“At first, you’re a little taken aback,” he said Tuesday.
It didn’t take long, though, for the Bears to explain their thinking. Head coach Ben Johnson called Kmet soon after they picked Michigan’s Colston Loveland.
“From there, you’re all on board on it and kind of understand their vision,” Kmet said. “You understand that there’s going to be areas where we complement each other, and obviously, just like [in] any position room, there’s going to be areas [where] we compete for things. That’s football, and that’s how it should be.”
Kmet has three years left on a four-year, $50 million contract he signed two years ago. However, the Bears can let him walk after this season and pay only $3.2 million in dead cap charges.
On draft night, Johnson reassured Kmet he was part of the plans. Later, the two spoke in depth.
“You’re just understanding their vision and their expectations for you as a player,” Kmet said. “It’s hard to come into work every day when you don’t know your set expectations. I think having those conversations kind of cleared the air a little bit.”
On Tuesday, Johnson praised Kmet’s intelligence, work ethic and attitude.
“You could tell instantly when he was around the other offensive players, the rest of the team, there’s an instant respect level,” he said. “He’s done things the right way for a long time. And so it’s been great — not just him learning the offense but helping others in the process, as well.”
Kmet is convinced he and Loveland can coexist. Loveland is considered more of a “move” tight end. Kmet is an in-line tight end, often playing alongside the tackle.
“The goal with it is to become the best [tight end] tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there,” Kmet said.
Left tackle update
It’s hard for Johnson to make any predictions about the competition between rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year player Kiran Amegadjie at left tackle. The Bears haven’t even put pads on yet. Braxton Jones, who has 40 career starts, is still recovering from ankle surgery.
“The cool thing to see [is that] Ozzy, for a young player, he’s really polished in terms of the mental aspect of the game,” Johnson said. “We’re looking to key up some things, quicken up his steps, his identification process. And Kiran’s done a nice job just for the little bit that we’ve had him, as well, just the growth prospects. So far so good.”
Trapilo and Amegadjie have each played with the first team in the offseason program.
“The No. 1 job of an offensive tackle — it doesn’t matter right or left — is to pass protect,” Johnson said. “And so you need to be able to block their best pass rusher one-on-one. . . . We’ve got to find out who the best pass protector is, [who] the most consistent pass protector is.”
Perfect attendance
Every Bears player was at Halas Hall for the first of three mandatory minicamp practices, Johnson said.
“It was good to get everyone together,” he said.
Not all practiced, though. Cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Terell Smith, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, linebacker T.J. Edwards, guard Ryan Bates, receiver Luther Burden, Jones and Loveland all remain out with injuries.
After being gone last week, cornerback Jaylon Johnson returned to practice but didn’t participate in many team drills.
