Tremaine Edmunds
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 06: Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Chicago Bears in action against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on October 06, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears are preparing to make their first major move of the season, and it regards linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Edmunds is heading into the final year of his four-year, $72 million deal, with multiple outlets believing his could be cut.
“Going off the cuff, five days after the season ended, Edmunds looks like someone who could be caught in a jam,” Chicago Tribune senior writer Brad Biggs wrote back in January. “Releasing him would clear $15 million in cap space.”
Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic also listed Edmunds as a cut candidate on February 16th, writing, “For a team that is currently over the cap, no player has a cleaner ‘out’ in his contract than Edmunds, whose release would create $15 million of cap space while counting as only $2.4 million of dead money.”
However, things took a turn when Biggs announced on Wednesday that the Bears had granted Edmunds permission to seek a trade.
Brad Biggs
The #Bears have granted permission for LB Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade, according to a league source. He’s under contract for the ’26 season at $15M. Still young and was Pro Bowl-caliber player thru first 10 games before minor injury. Finished year healthy. Led D in tackles.
Bears Grant Edmunds Permission to Seek a Trade
By no means is Edmunds a bad player, and he could have a market.
“Edmunds is 28 in May and if he reaches the open market will be one of the better linebackers available,” Biggs wrote. “Will be interesting to see if the Bears can attract an offer.”
For those wondering if the Bears will still receive $15 million for trading Edmunds and not releasing him, yes, it still applies in this situation.
The problem for the Bears is that everyone around the league was expecting Chicago to release Edmunds. Even if they announced that they are permitting him to seek a trade, that doesn’t automatically mean he’ll have suitors.
If anything, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if Edmunds doesn’t net a high-round draft pick.
What’s the Bears’ Plan at Linebacker?
The Bears are likely going from having one of the strongest linebacker groups in the NFL to one that needs major improvement.
T.J. Edwards isn’t the same player he once was when he first signed with the team, and the Bears haven’t gotten much out of 2025 fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II.
In terms of free agency, the top linebackers, according to ESPN, include Quay Walker, Devin Lloyd, Leo Chenal, Nakobe Dean, and Alex Anzalone.
The Bears likely won’t break the bank for a top free-agent linebacker like Walker or Lloyd, but could find value in signing someone like Chenal or Dean on a cheaper deal.
Both are young and still have a lot of potential.
However, Chicago will likely look to the 2026 NFL Draft for some linebacker reinforcements. Here are some of the top LB prospects, according to multiple ESPN draft analysts.
Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
CJ Allen, Georgia
Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Josiah Trotter, Missouri
The Bears have already met with Anthony Hill Jr. during the NFL Combine, who could be available in the second round.