The Chicago Bears may be about to give up one of their defensive cores. The team has allowed linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade with one year remaining on his contract. The news was first reported by Brad Biggs Chicago Tribune.
Edmunds was a first-round pick in 2018 and has been with the Bears for the past three seasons. In 2023, he signed a lucrative free agent contract worth up to $72 million over four years to become a defensive general. Edmunds was a productive player in Chicago, totaling more than 100 tackles in each of the last three years. He formed a solid halfback duo with TJ Edwards in 2023 and carried that into part of 2024.
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After the Bears overhauled their coaching staff, Edmunds started playing weakside linebacker under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and found success. The former Pro Bowler excelled in that role early in the season, recording double-digit tackles and four interceptions for three straight weeks. Unfortunately, Edmonds suffered a groin injury during the second half of the season and missed four games. Upon his return, Edmonds struggled to regain his early-season form. He finished the year with 112 tackles, three for a loss, four interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
Entering the final year of his contract, Edmonds is owed $17 million, and the Bears don’t appear to want to take on that money. Edmunds is only 28 years old entering the 2026 season, and he has proven that when healthy, he can be a good player. But his days in Chicago appear to be numbered. We’ll see if the Bears land any receivers or if they choose to release him, which would save them $15 million against the salary cap.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears award LB Tremaine Edmunds seeking trade