Cole Kmet Overview
Position: Tight End
Height: 6’-6”
Weight: 262 pounds
School: Notre Dame
Cole Kmet 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Cole Kmet has always been in the spotlight. A top-100 recruit out of Illinois, the Notre Dame product took a while to make an impact on the field. However, Kmet finally played up to his potential and became a big part of Notre Dame’s offense in 2019. After missing the first two games of the season, Kmet finished the year with 43 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns.
After receiving offers from a wide variety of programs, Kmet joined Notre Dame as a two-sport athlete. The big tight end spent time on Notre Dame’s baseball team but ultimately gave up the sport after suffering an elbow injury as a sophomore. This could explain his rise in production, as he only saw 21 targets in his first two seasons.
As a freshman, Kmet recorded just two receptions for 14 yards while struggling to see the field. He became slightly more productive as a sophomore but still left a lot to be desired. The Illinois native only recorded 15 receptions for 162 yards. Tight ends typically take a while to develop, and balancing two sports couldn’t have made the college transition any easier.
Strengths
- Large catch radius gives the quarterback a big target;
- Reliable hands, only had two drops as a Junior;
- Already has NFL build for the position;
- Hard to take down after the catch and can usually drag defenders for an extra yard or two;
- Capable of lining up as a traditional tight end, in the slot, and in the backfield;
- Has the speed to get past linebackers in coverage.
Weaknesses
- Can’t get himself open and needs to be schemed into space;
- Subpar in contested catch situations despite his advanced frame;
- Not elusive, relies on size alone to pick up extra yardage;
- Doesn’t attack the ball, waits for the pass to come to him;
- Subpar run blocker who gets pushed around in the trenches.
NFL Comparison: Scott Chandler
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins
Projection: Third round
Cole Kmet Bottom Line
Cole Kmet is an average tight end whose stock might rise in a relatively weak tight end class. While he certainly has a few traits that make him interesting, he probably won’t develop into anything more than a league-average starter. His size and large catch radius should be welcome anywhere, and his ability to drag tacklers and pick up extra yards should translate to the NFL. Versatility is always a plus, and even though he’s not the most gifted tight end out of the slot, the fact that he has experience lining up at multiple positions can only be a good thing.
However, there are a few gaping holes in his tape. Kmet struggles to separate on his own and owes most of his production to Notre Dame’s scheme. NFL coaching staffs can work around that, but his inability to win in contested catch situations despite his size is a major red flag. Additionally, Kmet will probably be a liability in the run game and won’t be a true three-down player. He’s a great supporting piece, but he shouldn’t be atop any tight end depth charts.
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