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Courtney Cronin
Multiple Authors
INDIANAPOLIS — The Chicago Bears have given linebacker Tremaine Edmunds the green light to pursue a trade, according to a source who confirmed the information to ESPN.
Edmunds, 27, is about to enter the final year of the four-year, $72 million deal he signed with the Bears as a free agent in 2023. The contract includes a $13.9 million base salary for 2026 and a $1 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the league year. His cap hit stands at $17.9 million.
If Edmunds is unable to secure a trade, he may become a salary cap casualty. Releasing him would free up $15 million in cap space for Chicago.
“We have a few players we need to make decisions about,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles commented when asked about Edmunds’ future on Tuesday.
“Whether it’s a trade or release, we have several avenues to explore to create some financial flexibility. but, it’s a unique scenario where our roster is filled with a lot of talent, and many players are compensated well, which puts pressure on our salary cap. Tough choices will have to be made. When we win games, it builds relationships, and there are leaders or former captains who mean a lot to us. But sometimes, we find ourselves in challenging situations…”
Last season, Edmunds led the Bears with 112 tackles, also contributing nine passes defended, four interceptions, one sack, and a fumble recovery, despite sitting out four games due to a groin injury. He also recorded 13 tackles during Chicago’s two playoff games.
A first-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, Edmunds has recorded at least 102 tackles in each of his eight seasons in the NFL.
The initial report regarding the Bears allowing Edmunds to seek a trade came from the Chicago Tribune.
