Notre Dame football: Predicting Cole Kmet’s NFL Draft outcome
By Matt Clark
Cole Kmet was the top tight end on the Notre Dame football team last season, now he’s the top tight end prospect heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
Last season Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet missed the first two games of the season due to injury. Upon his return in the game versus the University of Georgia, Kmet immediately made his presence felt with the Irish. From that point on, Kmet became one of Ian Book’s favorite targets when he needed a big catch.
Kmet would go on to have 43 receptions for 515 receiving yards and six touchdowns for Notre Dame last season. In November, Kmet hinted that he was contemplating a return to South Bend next season to play another year for Notre Dame. However, in January he announced that he would forgo his senior season with the Irish and declare for the NFL Draft.
Upon declaring, Kmet would appear atop the tight end rankings for on the draft boards of most draft experts. He would be a participant in the NFL Combine and would not disappoint in his performance.
The official measurements for Kmet at the combine were a height of 6’6″, a weight of 262-pounds, an arm length of 33″, and hand size of 10.5″. All of his measurements were well within the appropriate ranges of an NFL tight end. He was the second-tallest and the heaviest of any tight end to attend the combine.
With his performance at the NFL Combine, Kmet proved that he is a perfect blend of size and athleticism. In the 40-yard dash, Kmet ran an official time of 4.67, which was good for the fourth-best of any tight end to participate. Additionally, among participating tight ends, Kmet would have the best vertical jump with 37″, and the second-best broad jump at 123″.
Most draft experts have Kmet projected as a first-round or early second-round draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Many experts believed that the Illinois native would be an ideal fit for the Chicago Bears with the 43rd pick in the second round.
However, it is unlikely that Kmet would fall that far and the Bears recently signed Jimmy Graham to a two-year $16 million contract, making them less likely to draft Kmet when they make their first pick in the second round.
As a result, I am predicting that the Dallas Cowboys select Kmet with the 17th overall selection in the first round. The Cowboys currently have Blake Jarwin penciled in as the starting tight end following Jason Witten’s decision to sign a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
As solid as Jarwin has been for the Cowboys since signing as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2017, I can’t see Jerry Jones allowing him to be the reason that the team doesn’t select Cole Kmet. The idea of adding Kmet to an offense that already includes Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Amari Cooper will be too tempting for Jones to pass up.
The Cowboys owner has shown the propensity to draft former Notre Dame players and it has paid massive dividends. Currently, the Cowboys have perennial All-Pro offensive guard Zack Martin and Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith on the roster. Both former Notre Dame players have been integral members of the Dallas Cowboys.
By adding Cole Kmet to the roster, the Cowboys would have the seamless transition from the recent departure of future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten. A number of draft experts have drawn comparisons to Witten in regard to Kmet’s playing style. If Dallas was guaranteed to be able to land a tight end of Witten’s caliber in the draft, it’s a guarantee they would do so 10 times out of 10.
Next. Notre Dame games of the century. dark
We will ultimately have to wait to see if the Cowboys are willing to spend the 17th overall selection in the draft on Cole Kmet. What we do know is that whatever NFL team is lucky enough to select Kmet will be getting a future star at the tight end position in the National Football League.