The Bears granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade last week. Bear GM Ryan Poles opened the door for him to explore options across the league.
According to ESPN, the Titans, Raiders and Giants are among the teams showing interest. There are teams around the league that see value in Edmunds. He is still young and has played a lot of football at a high level. That alone keeps his name relevant in trade talks.
What is not known yet is what the Bears would get back. There is no confirmed offer. There is no reported deal in place. From a realistic standpoint, the return likely falls in the Day Three range of the draft. A fifth or even sixth round pick feels more in line with where things usually land for a veteran linebacker with a $17.4M cap hit.
Edmunds is not washed up. Before his injury, he was playing pro bowl caliber football last season. He has length, range and experience calling a defense. Teams looking to add stability in the middle will see that. The question is whether they are willing to take on his contract at the number it sits right now.
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Why This Makes Sense For the Bears
From the Bears point of view, this is about flexibility. If they trade or move on from Edmunds, they open up significant cap space. That money can be used to address other needs on the roster. Ryan Poles has made it clear that tough decisions are part of roster building. This feels like one of those moments. This draft class is very interesting at linebacker which helps Chicago but also may hurt Edmunds value on the market.
If the Bears think they can replace Edmunds’ production at a lower cost, then exploring a trade makes sense.
At the same time, this is not a move they should rush. If the offers do not match that value, keeping him is not a terrible outcome. But it is unlikely given their current cap situation.
In my view, the Bears should seriously explore the market but stay patient. If a team is willing to give up a solid mid round pick, you take it. This is business. It is not personal. And right now, the Bears are simply doing good business.
