A major priority for the Chicago Bears this offseason is to make sure linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is off the books for 2026, as they gave him permission to seek a trade.
Edmunds staying on the roster would result in the Bears taking a $17.4 million cap hit, but if they can move on from him, then they would save $15 million on the cap. That would leave the Bears with the option to replace him in free agency with a cheaper, yet more effective linebacker.
Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame collaborated with Gilberto Manzano on putting together a list of the top 50 free agents entering the offseason. SI ranked Kansas Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal 44th, with Verderame projecting his new contract at three years, $25 million, and the Bears as a potential landing spot.
"Chenal is an intriguing player. He’s an athletic linebacker who can cover, but he only played at least 50% of the defensive snaps once in Kansas City. The Chiefs could hope to re-sign Chenal and have him replace Drue Tranquill, but it won’t be cheap. He projects as a potential three-down linebacker with the ability to run with backs and tight ends."
Leo Chenal would make the perfect replacement for Tremaine Edmunds
Chenal finished last season with 58 tackles, five quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass deflections, and one interception in 14 games. Since he played only 53% of the defensive snaps for the Chiefs, that untapped potential went unshown. Pro Football Focus had him graded out as the 18th-best linebacker in the NFL out of 88, with a 75.1.
The Bears also have D'Marco Jackson about to be a free agent, but he won't be too expensive to bring back after showing that he could be a starter in the NFL. If Chicago got both Jackson and Chenal to sign, that would be two good linebackers that would come out to the same price as the cap hit of just Edmunds.
There is also the option to look at the draft to add more depth at the position, but Chenal would give the Bears the best of all worlds. He can cover well and stop the run with ease. Chenal would be a perfect fit for Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme.
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Chicago will have its fair share of choices at linebacker, but Chenal helps the Bears avoid overspending while getting a solid starter in the lineup.