Chicago Bears draft tracker: Bears take Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet and Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson in Round 2
The Bears are in the process of assembling their 2020 draft class. After each selection, the Tribune will offer you a quick peek at the newest addition to the roster.
Cole Kmet, tight end, Notre Dame
No. 43, second round
Why the Bears drafted him
Kmet is the 10th tight end on the Bears roster, but there are enough questions with the other nine that the pick makes sense.
At 6-foot-6, 262 pounds, Kmet is big, strong and physical, is tough to tackle and has a big catch radius, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said.
“If you’re saying, ‘OK, who looks like Gronk and who kind of has that physicality to them?’ It would be Kmet,” Jeremiah said.
Kmet was some analysts’ top prospect at the position after he had 43 catches for 515 and six touchdowns in his junior season at Notre Dame. He had nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown against Georgia in 2019.
With the Bears releasing Trey Burton last week and questions about Jimmy Graham’s future production, Kmet brings another playmaking option to the room.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
He only had one season as a starter and missed two games with a broken collarbone. By his own admission Friday, he needs to improve on his blocking and route running.
In his own words
“My versatility (is what I do best), just from being able to go from the backfield to in-line to split out wide,” Kmet said. “That’s pretty unique. And I’m an aggressive player. I don’t go down on first contact. I like to run through guys. I’m going to play fast and physical and I refuse to go down.”
Analyst’s take
“He’s an inviting target. Really good hands. You want to see a few less body catches, a little bit more hands with him, because he does have good hands, good body control. He’ll block — he’s a work in progress right there. … He will be a weapon. Whether it’s for Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky, Cole Kmet will be asked to a lot in that Chicago Bears offense.”
— ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. after Kmet was selected
You should know
Kmet said joining the Bears was “a huge dream come true” because he grew up in northwest suburban Lake Barrington a Bears fan and played football and baseball at St. Viator. He also played baseball at Notre Dame.
“I think my Mom was the most pleased (among my family members) just because she knows I’m going to be staying around home, which she’s really happy about,” Kmet said. “My whole family, we grew up Bears fans. So this is just unreal for us.”
He comes from a football-playing family. His dad, Frank Kmet, was a Bills fourth-round draft pick, and his uncle, Jeff Zgonina, played 17 NFL seasons.
He has been staying in shape in the Chicago area after setting up a gym at his grandma’s house.
Jaylon Johnson, cornerback, Utah
Why the Bears drafted him
The Bears entered the draft with an obvious need at cornerback and might have landed a prospect who can come in and start early if not immediately as a rookie. Johnson, who’s 6 feet and 193 pounds, has good size for the position and possesses good length and athleticism. His ability to excel in press-man coverage is a plus. He had six interceptions over his final two seasons in college and was a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection as well as an All-American as a junior last year.
Why he wasn’t drafted sooner
Johnson played most of last season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. That injury was surgically repaired after the combine, and it remains to be seen how quickly he will be able to get back to full speed. Johnson’s injury history might have been a deterrent for some teams. He also has had two labrum surgeries on his left shoulder.
In his own words
Johnson enjoyed the responsibility at Utah of having to defend opponents’ top receivers. As for what he brings to the position? “Confidence, swagger, toughness, you name it,” Johnson said at the combine in February. "It’s just about having kind of that dog mentality and having that will to win and just always wanting to compete and get better and impose your will on the receiver.”
Analyst’s take
“That’s the thing, the shoulder injuries. It’s the durability with Jaylon Johnson. He’s a guy who brings length to that cornerback position. ... He has that length to really handle those physical receivers in the NFL who bring size. He has good anticipation. I like Jaylon Johnson. I just hope he can stay healthy coming back from that shoulder (issue). He played through it (last season) which showed his toughness. But he has had those injuries. When he was on the field, he was an impressive cornerback.”
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