The Chicago Bears have already made waves this offseason by trading DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, signaling a willingness to reshape their roster. But could tight end Cole Kmet be the next player to pack his bags? According to recent analysis, a potential Kmet trade might not happen until after June 1—and there's a good reason for the delay.

The Bears' tight end room is currently stacked. Between Colston Loveland, rookie Sam Roush, and Kmet, Chicago has one of the deeper groups in the league. The team didn't address the position in the 2026 NFL Draft, free agency, or the trade market, which suggests they're confident in what they have. However, as Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox pointed out, the financial math makes a post-June 1 trade much more appealing.

"Trading Kmet before June 1 would cost the team $4.1 million in additional cap space," Knox wrote, "while trading him after that date would save $1.4 million." That's not a massive windfall, but for a team looking to trim costs, it's a meaningful difference. And with Roush capable of stepping into the TE2 role behind Loveland—thanks to his solid blocking and receiving upside—the Bears could absorb the loss without skipping a beat.

There's been plenty of buzz this offseason about a potential Kmet trade, though it quieted down after Chicago restructured his contract. That move lowered the odds of a deal, but it didn't eliminate them entirely. If general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson decide to move on, targeting a tight-end-needy team after the NFL Draft could net a mid-round pick in the 2027 draft.

Still, the Bears appear focused on contending this season, and keeping Kmet would only strengthen that push. For now, it's too early to rule out a trade—but if it happens, don't expect it until after June 1.