This WCG roundtable series was inspired by this Tweet from our guy Jacob, who gave six 2026 Chicago Bears superlatives for the offseason. We’re going to take them one by one, and we’ll give a couple two tree sentences for each.
We already did the Bears’ best player, yesterday was the Bear we’re most excited to watch, and today is the most underrated.
Jacob Infante: Coby Bryant allowed a lower passer rating than Kevin Byard last year, which speaks to his stronger consistency in coverage when you consider
Byard led the NFL in interceptions. Bryant’s versatility and ball skills make him an above-average starter, and I think Chicago sees that firsthand in 2026.
Sam Householder: It’s Cole Kmet. I think that stat-leading freak TEs like Travis Kelce or George Kittle have ruined how some fans watch the position. Kmet is a huge cog for the offense, even if he isn’t catching 80 passes for 1,000 yards. Overlook his importance and mock trade him at your own peril. Ben Johnson isn’t trying to replace him with Colston Loveland and Sam Roush. He’s complementing him and building more options for the offense.
Josh Sunderbruch: Rome Odunze – I think he’ll continue to force defenses to react and come up in key moments, but he will still be a WR2, only behind Burden now.
Ryan Droste: Cole Kmet – He’s been on the team so long that I think it’s easy to forget just how important he has been in the offense. Loveland is the flashy new star, but Kmet is the steady veteran who solidifies that TE room.
Bryan Orenchuk: Braxton Jones – A healthy Braxton Jones is one of the more athletic OTs in the league. Also, in year two of this scheme, and next to an All-World LG, Jones will have his work cut out for him battling with Jedrick Wills. May the best man win.
Donald Gooch: Cole Kmet – With the ascension of Loveland, I think that many have overlooked the steady competence of Kmet as an inline blocker and pass catcher. Social media was trying to trade him in the offseason. The fact that the Bears took a third-round tight end in the 2026 draft reignited that discussion. But really, what it showed is how important the tight end position is to Ben Johnson, and it cements Kmet as a key cog of this offense in 2026 and going forward.
Erik Duerrwaechter: Gervon Dexter Sr. – I get it, he hasn’t developed into a complete player just yet as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. But he’s quietly been one of the best pass rushing threats from the interior in the league, totaling 11 sacks and 30 QB hits these past two seasons alone. In year two of this scheme, he’ll get to settle in and produce in a big way.
Jeff Berckes: I think in all the love for Joe Thuney, the praise for Darnell Wright, the shock of Drew Dalman retiring, and the Ozzy Trapilo injury, we lost sight of just how good Jonah Jackson was last year. Many people panned the trade and extension last year, but he was phenomenal and will be counted on to help assimilate a new center in the offense and lock up that right side with Wright for the foreseeable future.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: Kmet has been the focus of trade speculation for two straight offseasons now, but he’s a key component on Ben Johnson’s offense. His numbers may have dipped, but he was a big part of the Bears’ top-five rushing attack. He’s just 29 receptions away from Mike Ditka’s record for most receptions by a tight end in franchise history.
Who is your pick for the most underrated Bear?
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