The following is the fourth of nine position previews in advance of training camp.

The Bears are hoping that veteran Cole Kmet and rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland blossom into one of the NFL's top tight end tandems.

No player has been with the organization longer than Kmet, a Chicago area native who was selected in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Notre Dame. In five seasons, he has not missed a game and ranks second in franchise history among tight ends with 258 catches, third with 19 touchdowns and fourth with 2,592 yards.

Since 2022, Kmet's 17 TD receptions are tied for fourth in the league among tight ends, trailing only George Kittle (25), Mark Andrews (22) and Travis Kelce (20).

"I'm excited about working with [Kmet]," said coach Ben Johnson. "When he was coming out [of college], I remember saying to the team I was with, 'Listen, this guy's like a boy scout. He's a guy that you'd want your daughter to marry. He's that type of guy.' I know he's going to play a critical role in what we try to do this year."

Johnson enjoyed working with Kmet in offseason workouts, revealing that the veteran tight end's "high intelligence factor" was "clear from the get-go."

"He's a pro, takes his work seriously, positive energy, great teammate," Johnson said. "You could tell instantly when he was around the other offensive players, the rest of the team, there's an instant respect level. I believe he's been here the longest out of anybody on the roster right now and you can tell that they respect him for that. There's a lot to be said there. He's done things the right way for a long time and so it's been great, not just him learning the offense, but helping others in the process as well."

Loveland, meanwhile, became only the third tight end selected by the Bears in the first round of the draft, joining Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1961) and Greg Olsen (2006).

Loveland appeared in 39 games the past three seasons at Michigan, catching 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Big Ten in 2023 when he helped the Wolverines win the national championship, recording 45 receptions for a career-high 649 yards and four TDs. Last year he established career highs with 56 catches and five touchdowns while compiling 582 yards.

Loveland was targeted by the Bears in part because of his versatility and intangibles.

"It's not just one part of his game," said general manager Ryan Poles. "It's the totality of what he can do for us. When you turn on the tape, there's plays being made constantly. It's a guy that you could feel confident going to in critical situations.

"What stands out? Obviously, the dynamic skillset to separate but also when you really study him in the run game, the blocking is way better than I think people realize."

Loveland also appealed to the Bears because he excels at creating mismatches and plays with a nonstop motor that rubs off on teammates.

"Love his compete, his fire," Poles said. "This kid is physical, he's tough, he plays the game the right way. When you watch the tape, there's an energy level that comes with him. You can see it throughout the game and it's infectious to other guys."

Smythe signed with the Bears in March after spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Dolphins. Appearing in 112 games with 74 starts for Miami, he caught 132 passes for 1,228 yards and three TDs. His most productive season came in 2023 when he compiled 35 receptions for 366 yards.

Other tight ends who will compete in training camp and the preseason are Stephen Carlson, Joel Wilson and Jordan Murray.

Carlson spent most of the past two seasons on the Bears practice squad, appearing in one game in 2023, a win over the Panthers.

Wilson and Murray both entered the NFL in 2023 as undrafted free agents and have yet to play in a regular season game.

Johnson named Wilson as one of four under-the-radar players who impressed the coach during offseason workouts. In one practice, Wilson caught a touchdown pass and later made a sensational grab by leaping over a defender along the sideline.

"He's kind of had one or two of those almost every OTA [practice]," Johnson said in June. "He's got a little savvy in how he moves. He's got a nice route feel about him. The test will really be when we get going in camp how he holds up in the run game and the pass pro game. But so far in the running route section of tight end play, he's stood out in a positive light."

Murray signed with the Bears in January after stints with the Texans, Colts, Cardinals and Giants. Wilson joined the Bears practice squad last Oct. 24 after spending time with the Saints, Bills, Packers and Giants.