There's no denying the Chicago Bears need to make some serious roster changes this offseason. They're currently facing an $8 million salary cap deficit, including the upcoming draft class, per OverTheCap.
Several tough decisions are on the horizon for Bears general manager Ryan Poles. One player the Bears simply can't afford to cut is linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Bears should avoid cutting Tremaine Edmunds
Lots of media outlets are vying for the Bears to cut their defensive captain, given that he's in the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract, and they can save $15 million by cutting him. Despite the NFL being a business, is it worth it to cut your team captain? The books say yes, but losing Edmunds' impact would be disastrous for a team attempting to repeat as NFC North champions.
Edmunds, the sixth-best off-ball linebacker in the league according to ESPN, started in 13 games and nabbed 112 tackles as one of the defense's unquestioned leaders on and off the field. A superb run stuffer, Edmunds might not have the sack or interception numbers Bears fans are looking for, but his impact is undeniable, and cutting him would make linebacker an immediate team need.
Good off-ball linebackers are hard to find. And there are a few off-ball linebackers in the league at Edmund's caliber. Your front seven is the most important part of your defense—even more important than defensive backs. If your front seven consistently stops the run and applies pressure to the quarterback, it makes the defensive back's job easier. With Edmunds run-stopping excellence, the Bears are in a better field position to defend the pass, more often than not.
Overall, there are just better players the Bears can cut. These players include tight end Cole Kmet, now that Colston Loveland is coming into his own, and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent—to name a few potential cut candidates.
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If the Bears brass decides to cut Edmunds, the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings are teams that could potentially afford to sign him immediately.