The Chicago Bears have difficult roster decisions to make before the start of the new league year. Much of that stems from them being $10 million over the salary cap. General manager Ryan Poles will have to clear payroll, and often a quick way to do that is to cut players with hefty contracts. One of the names on that list is Tremaine Edmunds. The linebacker has been a solid player for the Bears since signing in 2023, but he’d count $17.43 million against the cap this year and would save the team $15 million if released.
Still, some argue that unloading one of your better players on a side of the ball that was already weak last season seems counterproductive. It would be interesting to hear what people around the NFL think will happen. According to Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron, there isn’t much of a debate. It was nearly unanimous that Edmunds will be gone within the next month as the Bears look to shake up their defensive lineup under coordinator Dennis Allen.
I didn’t find one person who thought Tremaine Edmunds would return this upcoming season. I also got the idea that the Bears wouldn’t mind moving on from TJ Edwards as well, but that it didn’t make much sense financially, and that Edwards, being an off-ball linebacker who is 30 years old and coming off a significant injury, has no trade value. Edwards will most likely be here in 2026 because of what was laid out above, but will almost certainly be gone in 2027.
Tremaine Edmunds is a good player. Not good enough.
He started off the 2025 season red hot, snagging four interceptions in the first 11 games. Then he got injured. After missing five weeks, he returned but never really found his groove again. Opponents had no issue targeting his area in coverage, and he was lukewarm against the run. What adds to this situation is D’Marco Jackson. The Bears signed him as a cheap free agent. In four starts filling in for Edmunds, he had 30 tackles, an interception, and two pass deflections. He was making barely a fraction of the money.
That is likely why the Bears don’t feel too concerned about losing Tremaine Edmunds. While a good player, they feel they can find someone more than adequate to replace him, allocating his money to more premium positions like edge rusher and defensive tackle. It was always felt that Chicago made a mistake signing Edmunds at all. That kind of money shouldn’t go to linebackers unless they’re unquestionable stars. He is not. Another iffy investment from the Matt Eberflus era.
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The Bears’ path forward on this seems clear.
Once they cut Edmunds (or somehow find a trade partner), they should look to bring back Jackson, who is a free agent. He’s already proven he can play well in this defense, and Allen trusts him. He won’t be expensive to retain either. From there, the team will likely make linebacker a priority in the NFL draft. With Edmunds gone and T.J. Edwards to follow next year, this must be the time to start investing draft picks in the position. While the 1st round is probably out of the question, the 2nd and 3rd feel like favorable spots to take swings.
Historically, Allen has preferred linebackers with speed and instincts. Names like Harold Perkins Jr. of LSU, C.J. Allen of Georgia, and Anthony Hill Jr. of Texas could be possibilities for the Bears. All fit that profile to some degree. It comes down to who the Bears’ defensive coordinator likes the most. We will find out in two months’ time. As for Edmunds, here is hoping he lands in a good place elsewhere. While he may not have reached the heights many hoped during his time here, he’s been far from the worst investment this team has made.
