ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Chicago Bears reached an agreement to part ways with their Pro Bowl linebacker, Tremaine Edmunds. This move marks the second significant departure for the Bears, who previously decided to trade wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.
Chicago had initially authorized Edmunds to explore trade opportunities in February. He was slated to earn a non-guaranteed salary of $13.9 million in 2026, in addition to various roster and workout incentives. This was the concluding year of his four-year, $72 million agreement, which he signed with Chicago as a free agent during 2023.
While Edmunds was scheduled for a $17.4 million salary cap impact in 2026, the Bears are now projected to retain $15 million from that figure. The combined actions of letting Edmunds go and trading Moore are expected to free up $31.5 million in salary-cap flexibility for Chicago, resulting from Thursday’s personnel adjustments.
Having commenced his professional career in Buffalo, Edmunds then spent the subsequent three seasons playing for the Bears. The 27-year-old athlete concluded the year as the team’s top tackler with 112, even though he was sidelined for four games because of a groin ailment. Furthermore, he achieved four interceptions, matching his personal best.
Emerging from Virginia Tech, Edmunds was chosen by the Bills as the 16th overall selection during the 2018 NFL Draft. He earned Pro Bowl honors in both his second and third seasons in the National Football League, consistently recording over 100 tackles in every one of his eight years playing professionally.
