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LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - JULY 22: General manager Ryan Poles of the Chicago Bears speaks to the media ahead of the start of Chicago Bears Training Camp at Halas Hall on July 22, 2025 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears may be staring at one of their toughest roster decisions of the offseason. One analyst believes the solution could already be waiting in free agency.
With Chicago currently over the salary cap and searching for financial flexibility, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has emerged as a potential cap casualty. If the Bears release him, they would save roughly $15 million in both cap space and cash.
That possibility has prompted Joshua Queipo of Bear Goggles On to suggest a bold pivot. Rather than simply drafting a replacement, Queipo argues the Bears should pursue Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush.
“Devin Bush would cost more than Alex Anzalone, but still provide cash and cap savings for the Bears over keeping Edmunds,” Queipo wrote. He went even further, calling Bush “arguably the best linebacker in the NFL last year” and adding that he “offers the Bears’ defense fantastic upside.”
It is a strong but realistic stance with Chicago facing significant cap pressure.
Why the Bears May Part Ways With Tremaine Edmunds
Edmunds’ raw numbers in 2025 were impressive on the surface. He totaled 112 tackles, a sack, four interceptions and nine passes defended in just 13 games. However, the advanced metrics tell a more complicated story.
According to Pro Football Focus, Edmunds posted a 52.1 coverage grade last season. He allowed nearly an 80 percent completion rate when targeted and struggled to generate consistent impact in passing situations. In today’s pass heavy NFL, that is a significant concern, especially for a linebacker carrying a $17.5 million cap hit in 2026.
Edmunds has remained a dependable run defender and rarely misses tackles, but his overall defensive grade ranked outside the elite tier. For a player still among the highest paid at his position, the production may not justify the price tag.
With quarterback Caleb Williams extension eligible in a year and several other roster decisions looming, freeing up cap space could prove critical down the line.
Why Devin Bush Fits the Bears’ Win-Now Window
Bush is coming off a resurgent season in Cleveland.
The former No. 10 overall pick recorded 125 tackles, three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, two sacks and eight passes defended. He also earned an 80.4 coverage grade and an 87.6 overall mark from PFF, ranking among the top linebackers in football.
After four uneven years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a brief stint with the Seattle Seahawks, Bush returned to his old self during a breakout season with the Browns.
At just 27 years old, he is still in his prime and could offer the Bears a more dynamic presence in coverage while potentially costing less than Edmunds.
For a team that views itself in a Super Bowl window, Bush would not represent a step back, but rather a cost-conscious move that keeps the defense competitive while also protecting the future.