Bears Release Tremaine Edmunds
The Chicago Bears are set to release veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, continuing the team's roster overhaul. This move follows their recent trade of WR D.J. Moore to Buffalo, signaling a major organizational shift.
The release of Tremaine Edmunds comes just three seasons into the four-year, $72 million contract he signed with the Bears in 2023. The deal included $50 million in guaranteed money, making it a significant commitment that the team has now opted to move on from. By cutting Edmunds, the Bears will save $15 million against the 2026 salary cap. This was a necessary move for a team that started the week with negative cap space and had previously granted the 27-year-old permission to seek a trade. This move is part of a larger financial overhaul. Combined with the D.J. Moore trade and the unexpected retirement of center Drew Dalman, the Bears have cleared approximately $44 million in cap space in just one week. The team now sits with roughly $32 million in available cap space, ranking 11th in the league as the free agency period approaches. This newfound financial flexibility allows them to address significant needs, particularly on a defense that ranked 29th in total yards allowed per game in 2025. In his final season with Chicago, Edmunds recorded 112 total tackles, four interceptions, and nine pass breakups despite missing four games. He was a full-time starter in each of his eight NFL seasons and will enter free agency with over 900 career tackles on his resume. Edmunds, who turns 28 in May, is now an unrestricted free agent and can sign with a new team immediately rather than waiting for the new league year to begin. He is expected to be a coveted player on the open market.
