The Chicago Bears have granted veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade, signaling a potentially significant shift for both the player and the franchise. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears are allowing Edmunds to explore his market value before making a final decision on his future.
Tremaine Edmunds just completed his third season with the Bears after signing a four-year, $72 million deal in March 2023. Despite missing four games in 2025 with a groin injury, Edmunds still led the Bears with 112 tackles, marking his eighth consecutive season eclipsing the 100-tackle mark. He also matched a career-high with four interceptions while adding nine passes defended, one sack, and a fumble recovery. Over his three seasons in Chicago, Edmunds totaled 335 tackles and nine interceptions, reinforcing his reputation as a productive, durable presence in the middle of the defense.
However, the financial side tells a different story. Tremaine Edmunds carries a $17.4 million cap hit in 2026 and is set to earn $15 million in cash in the final year of his deal. His $18 million average annual salary ranks third among all linebackers. For a Bears team currently operating in the red, sitting at negative cap space figures, that number looms large. If the Bears move on from Edmunds via trade or release before June 1, they would save approximately $15 million while absorbing just $2.4 million in dead money.
The timing is notable. The Bears are coming off an 11-6 season under head coach Ben Johnson, winning the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and capturing their first playoff victory since the 2010 season. Dennis Allen’s defense led the NFL with 33 takeaways, and the team showed resilience with seven wins when trailing in the final two minutes, including the postseason. Still, general manager Ryan Poles has acknowledged the need to examine all roster scenarios as Chicago attempts to maintain competitiveness while improving cap flexibility.
Interest around the league could emerge quickly. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may need a successor to Lavonte David, who is entering free agency. The Indianapolis Colts could look for an upgrade at linebacker if they restructure their depth chart, and the Washington Commanders have both cap space and a defensive need at the second level. A reunion with the Buffalo Bills, the team that drafted Edmunds 16th overall in 2018, has also been floated, though their current cap situation complicates that possibility.
With a relatively thin free agent linebacker class, Tremaine Edmunds may generate trade interest before the new league year begins. If no deal materializes, he could become a cap casualty, though that outcome would likely reduce his market value and force him to accept a pay cut on a shorter-term deal elsewhere.
What Is Next for Tremaine Edmunds and the Bears?
For Tremaine Edmunds, the next step hinges on whether a team is willing to absorb his $17.4 million cap hit in exchange for proven production and veteran leadership. At 27 years old and still in his prime, he remains an effective defender, even if he is further removed from his back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in 2019 and 2020. A trade would allow him to land with a contender in need of stability at linebacker while preserving his current contract value.
For the Bears, this decision is rooted in roster construction and financial flexibility. Saving $15 million would give Chicago room to address other priorities, particularly pass rush help, while continuing to build around a playoff-caliber core. Granting Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade allows the Bears to potentially recoup draft capital rather than lose him outright.
Ultimately, it feels increasingly difficult to envision Edmunds returning to Chicago under his current contract. Whether through trade or release, the Bears appear prepared to move forward with financial pragmatism in mind, while Tremaine Edmunds prepares for what could be the next chapter of his NFL career.
